The NSW Liberals & Nationals welcome the Keneally Labor Government's campaign to manage locusts but need more detail on where the actual funding is coming from, Shadow Minister for Primary Industries Duncan Gay said today.

"After much delay and pressure from the NSW Liberals & Nationals, Premier Keneally today finally announced an $18.5 million plan to combat locusts, but there are still questions as to whether or not it is a concrete funding commitment that will actually benefit affected farmers in this State," said Mr Gay.

"Farmers are preparing for what is expected to be the worst locust plague in 30 years, so there is absolutely no reason why NSW Labor should be long on spin and short on substance.

"Whilst the funding is welcome, I am told NSW needs at least $20 million to tackle the latest outbreak so once again this commitment falls short of what is needed.

"It's a far cry from what has been offered in other states like Victoria.

"John Brumby committed $44 million for Victoria which is more than double what NSW has been offered; despite the fact NSW is about four times the size.  

"How far will the small amount of money for NSW actually go?

"Affected farmers deserve to know exactly how much money is available, when they will see it and exactly how it will be used."

Mr Gay said the Keneally Labor Government's $18.5 million is even less than what it owes from the last locust plague, which was not nearly as severe.

"NSW Labor's poor management of the last outbreak is the reason why farmers still have this debt to pay off, at a time when they're coming out of drought and will be battling a fresh outbreak," he said.

"The other question that needs to be answered is whether this plan includes turning the locust loan into a grant, something I have long called for.  

"I call on the Keneally Labor Government to come clean and explain exactly what today's announcement means for farmers on the cusp of a devastating locust outbreak."

 ‘Wetherill Park, 40 km South West of Sydney employs 232 people and will be migrating production to the Morwell site in January 2010.'

National Foods Press Release, 29/06/2010

News today that Dairy Foods production at Wetherill Park is to be phased out is yet another blow to industry in NSW, Shadow Minister for Industry Duncan Gay said.

National Foods announced today it plans to close its dairy production sites at Wetherill Park and Cobden, with a total of 280 redundancies, 232 of which are to come out of NSW.

"This is a blow to the dairy industry and more bad news for industry and jobs in NSW," said Mr Gay.

"This follows on from the closure of the Pacific Brands factory last year costing nearly 600 jobs, Qantas moving nearly 500 maintenance jobs in Sydney to regional Victoria in 2007 and Boeing closing its Milperra plant this year, costing 350 NSW jobs.

"National Foods is investing $55 million on upgrades to its facilities in Victoria, and less than a fifth of this amount on NSW upgrades.

“While Victorian Premier John Brumby will be boasting at trumping NSW again, Kristina Keneally is left offering the same old excuses for her Government’s failure.

“Kristina Keneally needs to reveal what action, if any, she’s taken to attempt to save these jobs.

“This is exactly why the NSW Liberals & Nationals have been proposing a payroll tax cut of up to 20% to retain jobs and investment in NSW."

Mr Gay said it's one thing for Ms Keneally to engage in constant media stunts, but it doesn’t make up for hard work and hasn’t saved these 232 families their jobs.

“Those families now face the difficult choice of losing their jobs or uprooting their family and moving to Victoria,” he said.

"This State Labor Government has simply not done enough to support the growth of industry in NSW and the cost of this is families like these today who must front tomorrow without jobs. 

“This is a State Labor Government that is completely out of touch with the NSW public, and a failed Government that has forgotten what the real priorities of the day should be.

“Unlike the Keneally Labor Government, the NSW Liberals & Nationals are committed to putting the needs of the people of NSW first by promoting growth within NSW Industry."