The Jenyns family is one of many Australian families 'slipping through the cracks', ineligible for drought assistance and unable to find off-farm work.
More than two thirds of Queensland is now officially drought-declared, yet only 600 farmers in the state have accessed the Federal Government's Farm Household Allowance this year.Farmer Michelle Jenyns earns $300 a week so is deemed self-sufficient and ineligible for the Government's drought assistance
She and her husband are in their 60s and 70s and apply for off-farm jobs but are unsuccessful, which they say is because of their age The Rural Financial Counselling Service is urging people experiencing hardship to contact their service and not to self-assess their eligibilityLooking out her car window all she could see was a bare paddock, and the only green in sight was the prickly pear, but even it was wilted.The Jenyns family has been one of many Australian families"slipping through the cracks", ineligible for drought assistance.
Ms Jenyns said keeping their remaining 40 horses and cattle alive was costing a"fortune" and she was concerned that feed would not be available for much longer. She said they put their life savings into buying a vet clinic with their daughter, but it was also feeling the effects of drought.
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