Dairy group backs calls for extended disaster aid

The Queensland Dairyfarmers' Organisation (QDO) has added its voice to calls for extra disaster recovery support to be extended to more council areas.

Bundaberg, Gympie, North Burnett, Lockyer Valley and Fraser Coast have already been declared Category C under Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements, providing landholders with income relief subsidies and help to rebuild.

QDO's Brian Tessmann says areas like South Burnett, Scenic Rim, Somerset, and parts of the Darling Downs should also be upgraded.

He says dairy farmers in those areas have already been through a lot.

"The dairy industry was hit severely in the floods after going through a long period of drought and then of course straight ... after, the floods had barely drained away, the supermarket milk price war started, which has had a severe effect on the industry ever since," he said.

"So now on top of that to get another impact here is really heartbreaking.

"We're certainly working ... the QDO and QFF [Queensland Farmers Federation] are working to lobby government, put the case up and show the damage.

"We're really keen that the areas that have not as yet been declared get information to us so we can really put the case to government to see that those areas are also declared."

Source: ABC News, 7 February 2013