Former head of the National Farmers’ Federation Jock Laurie, has been removed from his role as the New South Wales government’s drought coordinator after less than a year.
The deputy NSW premier, John Barilaro says there is a dedicated office of drought establishing by the government, assisting for regional communities.
“State drought co-ordinator Jock Laurie played an important role in helping to lead the immediate response to the drought on behalf of farmers,” Mr Barilaro said.
Mr Laurie has allegedly been warning for weeks about the dire situation in the northern basin faced by farmers and towns on the Lower Darling River, but the government only introduced a temporary restriction on pumping in the Barwon-Darling on Monday.