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Commitment to funding for Rural Financial Counselling Service = essential
The Shires Association of NSW is calling on the State and Federal = Government=20 to urgently commit to guaranteeing continued funding to the Rural = Financial=20 Counselling Service (RFCS) in NSW.
Alarm bells have gone off about the future stability of funding for = this=20 service following recent discrepancies in the budget timing and planning = between=20 the NSW and Australian Governments.
President of the Shires Association, Cr Ray Donald, is most concerned = about=20 the impact this has on the many users of this service, and is seeking = swift=20 clarification from the NSW Government on their intention to provide = ongoing=20 funding.
"It is critical that the NSW Government take this budget issue up = with the=20 Australian Government and sort this situation out. Rural and regional=20 communities need urgent reassurance of the continuation of the Rural = Financial=20 Counselling Service," said Cr Donald.
"We call on the NSW Government to guarantee that current funding = levels will=20 be matched, enabling existing Rural Financial Counselling Services to = continue,"=20 he said.
"We note that there are bureaucratic complications due to the timing = of the=20 NSW budget, however this does not preclude the NSW Government from = openly=20 committing to funding."
"Whilst we appreciate that it may not be possible to lock the numbers = into=20 the formal NSW budget spreadsheet, it's certainly possible for Minister=20 Hodgkinson to state on the public record of their intention to continue = to fund=20 this important service."
The RFCS Program is a vital service that provides confidential = support to=20 primary producers, fishers and small rural businesses who are suffering=20 financial hardship and who have no alternative sources of impartial = assistance=20 to manage the challenges of change and adjustment.
"There is a significant need for Rural Financial Counselling Services = in=20 rural and regional NSW, particularly in light of the need for farmers to = recover=20 financially after the recent extraordinary period of drought and = devastation=20 caused by floods. Agriculture is extremely important to the NSW economy, = and=20 it's crucial that support is available for farmers in these hard times," = said Cr=20 Donald.
"We strongly urge the NSW Government to consult with the Australian=20 Government's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) = about the=20 unnecessary disruption to the program that has resulted from the timing=20 discrepancies between the State and Federal budgets."
The Shires Association of NSW is also requesting that the DAFF review = the=20 funding arrangements with RFCS to include considerations of increased = service=20 delivery.
The RFCS Program operates as a partnership between the Australian and = State=20 Governments and non-government, not-for-profit organisations. Core = funding for=20 the RFCS Program is provided by the Federal Government's Department of=20 Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry (DAFF).
For further information about the RFCS - Central West, please visit =
Media Enquiries
Cr Ray=20
Donald &=
nbsp; President,=20
Shires Association: 0438 699 910
Megan=20
Graham &=
nbsp; LGSA=20
Communications Director: 0413 313 498
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