HUGHENDEN graziers Alison Murphy and Mary Dixon shook their heads in resignation during federal Agricultural Minister Joe Ludwig's address to the beef crisis summit in Richmond today.
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There were no new announcements beyond working with the New Asian Century, the farm finance package and the national drought policy.
"We don't want loans," Alison said.
"We are in debt up to our necks. How many people does he think already have farm management deposits? We need things like interest subsidies."
Federal Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig with Queensland Agriculture Minister John McVeigh. Click on the picture to see more images from the Richmond beef crisis summit.
Alison is among 250 people gathered at Richmond, where 10 resolutions are being put to the summit, including a request that state and federal governments develop a method of emergency financial relief for exceptional circumstances assistance for government charges such as payment of rates and outstanding taxes, as well as land rent.
Explaining the request, Cloncurry Shire Mayor Andrew Daniels said about 90 percent of government income came from northern Australia, through mining, beef and agriculture.
"We've allowed you to put it all into the eastern seaboard, now we just want a little bit of it back," he said.
