Speakers Announced for Southern NSW Drought Summit

Published on 30 July 2025

Senior government officials have committed to listen to farmers at the upcoming Drought Summit being held next Monday, 4 August.

The Hon. Tara Moriarty, MLC, Minister for Agriculture, Regional and Western NSW will speak at the summit alongside local Federal and State members, plus Courtney Bryant, Assistant Secretary of the Drought Policy Branch at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

Five Southern NSW councils, including Yass Valley Council, have joined forces to host the online summit to give farmers, industry leaders, government, policymakers, and the broader community the vital opportunity to come together and call for stronger support in the face of worsening drought conditions across the region.

This free, region-wide summit will provide a platform for farmers to speak directly to government decision-makers about the impacts being felt on the farms – and will call for a government Drought Taskforce to deliver evidence-based policy and practical resilience measures. This is especially crucial as NSW producers face growing challenges accessing fodder and freight due to subsidised programs available in Victoria and South Australia.

Speakers

The summit features a strong lineup of respected rural producers and farming voices who bring on-the-ground insights into the realities of farming through drought.

Government representatives who will listen and respond include Sussan Ley, Opposition Leader and Federal Member for Farrer; Jamie Chaffey, Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Resources; Michael McCormack, Federal Member for Riverina; and State MPs Dr Joe McGirr (Wagga Wagga), Steph Cooke (Cootamundra), and Justin Clancy (Albury) - all representing drought-affected areas across Southern NSW.

Farmers sharing their experience and insight include Mark Lucas, a Gundagai-based agronomist and beef producer; Sandy McEachern, a strategic farm business advisor and livestock producer from Aggregate Consulting in Wagga Wagga; Barney Hyams, a seasoned orchardist, grazier and rural leader from Batlow; Emma Webb, a Merino woolgrower from Bowning, and advocate on climate adaptation and renewable energy infrastructure impacts on rural communities.

Jasmin Jones, Mayor of Yass Valley, is appealing to farmers to join the summit, saying:

‘It's vital we send a strong message to government leadership - your Zoom summit registration really does count.’

She continued:

‘Your participation will support our local graziers as they speak up for our region. They’ll be unpacking the true impact of the drought and pushing to create a taskforce that drives policy change - so that in future, drought is declared a natural disaster in NSW and government assistance flows when it’s needed most.’

The event is an invitation to farmers, community members, producers, Councillors, MPs, industry representatives, and peak bodies, all of whom are encouraged to register their interest at the below zoom link.

The summit will take place online via Zoom at 12 noon on Monday, 4 August, and is a collaborative initiative of Greater Hume, Snowy Valleys, Wagga Wagga City, Cootamundra-Gundagai, and Yass Valley Councils.

Media attendance is welcome.

Event Details:

Date: Monday, 4 August Time: 12noon to 1.30pm Location: Zoom

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/BIVvweFOTCygBqb28xUeYA

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

The summit will be recorded. If registered, you will be sent a recording.