The state opposition has criticised the Baird government for their lack of support for farmers in north west NSW as they go through one of the worst droughts on record.
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Shadow minister for Primary Industries Steve Whan said Mike Baird's visit to Weilmoringle, near Brewarrina, was effectively pointless without any announcement of new drought assistance measures.
"During the millennium drought the Labor government provided 50 per cent subsidies for the transport of fodder and stock, those subsidies helped farmers keep their breeding stock alive so that they could rebuild herds in the good years," Mr Whan said.
"Farmers in the north west were receiving these subsidies up till June 30 when the Baird Liberal/National government cut them off.
"The subsidies finished but the drought did not.
"The simple fact is Mike Baird has not provided farmers with help, he is the premier who has cut off drought support."
The government phased out the transport subsidies at the end of the financial year because it claimed the National Drought Program took over. The only assistance offered by the NSW government is rural counselling.
However the NSW Farmers Association points out the Queensland government has continued to offer support.
"Queensland has a number of measures which sees the cash flow to rural communities," NSW Farmers president Fiona Simson said.
"I'm hopeful that Mike Baird and Katrina Hodgkinson's visit to north west NSW might lead to more support."
Meanwhile federal Labor has also gone on the attack with Shadow Minister for Agriculture Joel Fitzgibbon claiming just 6 per cent of money for drought assistance loans had been allocated.
He said families are also having trouble accessing Centrelink.
