A second attempt to gain Exceptional Circumstances relief for the Delungra region has been denied.

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Senator Joe Ludwig decided the original National Rural Advisory Council (NRAC) decision would not be altered.

The application had been for Exceptional Circumstances for the 12 months between May 2009 and April 2010.

Nationals senator John Williams said the minister made the decision because of “the absence of what he considers new or additional information”.

But Senator Williams disputes the claim that new information was not provided.

He said following NRAC's first refusal late last year, supporting evidence was obtained from farmers' accountants and from rural firms that are in contact with them virtually every day.

"Their information pointed to the opposite,” Senator Williams said.

“NRAC claimed there had not been a rare and prolonged downturn in the farmers' income.

“But a local accountancy firm said that differed from its own observations in dealing with the farmers and preparing their accounting reports.

“It is disappointing this expertise and local knowledge on the ground is not given more credence rather than a series of graphs and charts,” Senator Williams said.

© 2011 Inverell Times

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