1. The ‘Death’ of a Country Town (Focus on Queensland small towns) Assignment 1: Individual Mini-Research Projects related to ‘Education as the critical interpretation and evaluation of culture' Marie Koranias

2. Questions Raised about the moral issue: “The ‘Death’ of a Country Town”

3.  What is causing the death of small towns?  How does this effect people within the small town?  Who benefits from the death of a small town?  How does this effect society in general?  What will the government do to support the small towns?  How else can help the communities of small towns?

4. Introduction to Moral Issue: “The ‘Death’ of a Country Town”

5.  The decline of many small towns is real and affects many places.  Environmental pressures and high unemployment in rapidly growing. This has increased over the last 10 years  The drought tightens its grip on Queensland (and New South Wales.)  River beds are drying up and Livestock are deteriorating.  Farmers are becoming increasing desperate to keep their farms going.

6.  There has not been sufficient rain in three years.  The long drought has forced many farmers to de- stock.  The farmers want the politicians to consider the bigger picture of regional communities.  They say if the farms die, so too will the towns.  As farmers tighten their belts, businesses in town are also feeling the pressure.  Whole communities and small towns are in a depressed state.

7. Initial Responses to The ‘Death’ of a Country Town

8.  Concern for the grazers, their families, their mental health.  Concern for the health of the live stock.  Surprise that families have not had an income for a year: they would be struggling.  Astonishment at how rapidly expenses have increased.  Interested in the role the government may play in helping glaziers.

9. However, there were some positives:  Impressed by the optimism and hope that some farmers show.  Hopeful for the families that pull together to make this a team effort.

10. The Main Arguments

11.  The critically low levels of water are forcing farmers to kill-off their stock or abandon their homesteads.  Subsequently this is causing small towns to drop in business.  The expenses of running a farm have doubled, however, due to the drought selling stock is not profitable at this time.  There are serious constraints on what governments can do to save small towns, just as there are constraints on regional policy formulation.  The National Farmers' Federation want the Federal Government to deliver immediate financial assistance. The lobby group argue it's vital to avoid economic collapse in rural and regional towns.

12.  In a flood there is immediately local disaster committees, people spin straight into action and everyone comes out, there is all the help possible straight away  But with a drought, it sneaks up over the years, keeps going on and on and gets worse and worse, but there really needs to be a process for drought

13. Principles

14.  Country towns are dying because the drought is effecting the running of farms and the major income of these particular communities.  Typically, the criticisms come from communities that feel under restriction  Local councils blame higher levels of government for “not doing enough” in regional development.  They regularly argue that the level of resources devoted to regional policies does not match the dimensions of the problem.

15.  Governments should try to save small towns.  Small towns policy must be part of an integrated approach to regional development.  While small towns have difficult problems, the “community” is but one level at which government resources need to be directed.

16.  From an economic perspective, a necessary part of the approach to encouraging country development must continue to be the focus on growth nodes rather than places in decline.  There will always be difficult choices for governments in deciding how to apportion resources between the two.

17. Lack of Values/Beginning of Some Values for the oppression of the farmers

18.  There is the need to look at the principal of equity and sustainability: the 2012 floods. As mentioned in the arguments as why had it taken so long to address the drought compared to the 2012 floods  In a flood there is immediately local disaster committees, people spin straight into action and everyone comes out, there is all the help possible straight away it has been three years since there has been a decent drop of rain and according to the definition of a drought it is a prolonged, abnormally dry period when there is not enough water for users normal needs. Three years seems more than a prolonged period of time to go with out the appropriate amount of water.

19.  This raises the issues of farmers being able to support their farm and their families, which leads to not having an appropriate income to support their farm and their family. This then leads to los of business for small country towns.  The National Farmers' Federation want the Federal Government to deliver immediate financial assistance.  The lobby group argue it's vital to avoid economic collapse in rural and regional towns

20.  There's little sympathy from critics of agricultural handouts. Economist argues that for too long subsidies have propped up unviable farms and he says the sector should not be receiving special treatment  March 2015 The Australian Government is investing more than $15.5 million to enhance social and community support services across the worst hit drought-affected areas in Queensland and northern New South Wales. However is this enough to support the country towns

21. Values of Common Good and Solidarity  People helping others to help to work towards the common good and solidarity for the farmers and small towns  The charity organisation Aussie Helpers have been travelling to the worst-hit areas giving away donated liquid stock feed and hay.  These stock feed and hay will not provide that much help, however it does give people hope.

22. Facts and Data

23. Definition of a Drought A drought is a prolonged, abnormally dry period when there is not enough water for users' normal needs. Drought is not simply low rainfall; if it was, much of inland Australia would be in almost perpetual drought. Because people use water in so many different ways, there is no universal definition of drought. (Living with Drought, Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology)

24. 70% of Queensland is in drought There has not been a decent drop of rain since 2012 (in affected areas) The expense of running a farm have doubled The Australian Government is investing more than $15.5 million to enhance social and community support services across the worst hit drought-affected areas in Queensland and northern New South Wales.

25. Interpretation and Evaluation

26.  Country towns are slowly dying out due the drought, which is causes the expense of keeping a farm to increase significantly.  As farmers are not making much income this is not supporting the communities of country towns.

27.  Even through the Government has supported these farms within these country towns is this enough to be able to sustain them.  Is the Government making tough decisions and supporting areas of growth to help them be sustainable.  Some charity organizations are working towards solidarity to help the common good of these country towns.

28. However, this may not be enough to help them through hard times and to keep a country town alive.

29. Bibliography The Australian Government: Natural disasters in Australia http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian- story/natural-disasters Drought and Rural Assistance Newsletter – Issue 3 - March 2015 Drought and Rural Assistance: Issue 2 – October 2014 Farmers call for assistance as drought tightens grip: http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2013/s3943498.htm Farmers wait for drought relief: http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2013/s3943576.htm