INTERVIEW WITH DAVE EISENHAUERFM 96.3 SOUNDS OF THE MOUNTAINS

Thursday, 8 May 2025

Subjects: Federal election, Drought conditions, needs for subsidies, ANZAC Day, Mothers Day

Dave Eisenhauer: Every Thursday fortnight, we catch with Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke, she joins us online this morning. Steph Cooke, a very good morning to you.

Steph Cooke: Good morning, Dave, and I'm coming to you from Parliament House this morning, so we are, we're almost at the end of the first of three sitting weeks for May, so a very busy sitting schedule in this particular month for the New South Wales parliament.

Dave Eisenhauer: And of course, we're talking state, the Member for Cootamundra, as you are the honourable Steph Cooke, and have been for a long time, Steph, and what an interesting district you live in.

We're going to talk election talk has been making the news now from a federal level for a good week or more, especially after the election result you're a Nat, you're up there, I think that party just did so well, and there's always positives in what we look at, there Steph communities listening to you and supporting you.

Steph Cooke: Oh, look, I think what the election results showed federally, as far as regional New South Wales is concerned, is that the Nationals continue to be viewed by communities more broadly as the party that represents rural and regional communities.

And we saw that through the results from a state sorry, from a federal perspective, where the seats that overlay the state seat of Cootamundra, with Riverina and parks being returned to seeing returning nationals members and of course, Michael McCormack saw what I believe to be in this day and age, a significant swing to him, and full credit to him, he had an electorate that was vastly different this time than what he has represented previously, and he's worked incredibly hard to reassure those communities that were coming into the seat Riverina that he would look out for their best interests, that he would fight for the issues and the projects that are important to them, and they have seen fit to place some faith and confidence in him, to do so. So well done him.

And then in the west of the electorate, Jamie Chaffey was returned, sorry, was elected for the first time following the retirement of Mark Coulton and a redistribution that saw the Bland Shire taken out of Riverina and put into the seat of Parks. Now, Jamie's got a fairly

big task ahead of him, there, if for no other reason than his seat alone, is 54% of New South Wales land mass. It is huge, and so my undertaking to both to him and to the communities of Bland all of those little villages and towns out there West Wyalong, Tallimba, Weethalle, they're really small communities, is that I will work incredibly closely with Jamie, as I have done with Michael for years and years now, to make sure that there is a seamless interaction when it comes to state and federal issues, because, Dave, I think you will have heard this before.

Not everybody understands how to get an issue resolved, so the first, the first thing they'll do is they'll just walk up to you as somebody who's in politics and say, Oh, I've got this issue with my mum or my neighbour or myself. Can you help me with that? And what they don't want to hear is, oh, that's federal. You'll have to do this. What they want to hear is, Steph, can you help me? And so, we will continue to work hard across the board to make sure that people, when they have a problem that needs resolving, have a seamless interaction as best as possible with their members of parliament to get those issues resolved, and that's what we'll what we'll do for the next few years.

Dave Eisenhauer: My word three years, that's not a long time, Steph Cooke, isn't it true? Now, one thing we mentioned to Michael McCormick last week, we catch up every fortnight in rotation with you, and we talked to Michael about the fact that water was missing from the election campaign. It still is, but it's not from you, because Steph your Shadow Minister for water, and as we know, in this district, the Coota-Gundagai and the Snowy Valleys, were drought declared in the last couple of weeks, even to the extent that water restrictions have been put in place as of yesterday, level one only. So, it's only basic, really basic water restrictions, but they're still level one water restrictions in the Snowy Valleys region.

As Shadow Minister for Water, this is a concern, especially that we're rolling into autumn. I mean, the crops are being there's massive plumes of dust around, Weethalle and Bland, and all throughout Junee, everywhere, as farmers are dry, sowing with their fingers and toes and everything has crossed to turn things, it's got to rain. They've got to be an autumn break, this is a real concern. Steph.

Steph Cooke: It is, Dave, and you've encapsulated those issues as I hear from people right across the electorate perfectly at the end of the day. Look, I've been traveling, as most people know, a.1000 to 1500 kilometres a week, right across our electorate, and everywhere I go, it is dry, and people are reporting that back to me, and the concerns about rain are growing. There's no question, like so many other people, I'm hoping for that late break in the weather.

And there are many agronomists who are, you know, saying, We have been here before, and farmers as well, and there's every chance that in, you know, June and into July, we will get good soaking winter rains, and to your point, right across the electorate, the dry sowing has just been look on an on an enormous scale everywhere I go, that is exactly what farmers are doing.

Cootamundra Gundagai, just for your awareness and for your listeners, is now the most drought impacted local government area in New South Wales for 71% of our of our LGA there in Cootamundra Gundagai is drought affected, and all drought declared. So, this is now really starting to pick up steam, and it's important that we continue to have this conversation, that farmers know that there is a level of support available at present.

However, if this continues, we are going to need to see additional supports offered by the New South Wales government, by the federal government, as has happened in previous dry periods, and as drought continues to grow across the state, as it is predicted to do, we will need to see that greater focus on support, not handouts, but support that our farmers need to get them through from one season to the next, and also, back to your point about water we need that focus on water security.

Dave Eisenhauer: Oh, look, we so do I remember, and I was just thinking back, Steph, years ago, we were catching up with your predecessor in the in the chair, Katrina Hodgkinson, I think we were having exactly the same discussions about the lack of water. I think there was, I mean, no three there's been a number of drought years, and as you said, it's not the first time we've been through this. We've had level five water restrictions a number of times, even just in my lifetime, let alone going back in time, we'll come out of this at the other end, and we'll survive like we do, but in the interim, it's a concern.

Watching the news last night, the Batlow community is up there talking about the amount of water the TransGrid may need to be using. Will that leave enough for the community? These are all the issues that people take really to heart, especially when we're talking about food and fiber, and of course, you can't do any of that stuff without water.

Steph Cooke: That's right, without water, there's no life that's the bottom line. And in small, isolated communities, and just in rural communities, more generally, it is a significant concern, and what we know about our farmers is that whilst they are smart and resilient and they bounce back and they learn from every single season, whether it's a good season or a not good season, farmers are always learning and evolving the way they the way they farm, how they go about what they do.

But what I'm concerned about is that our farmers are all have for the last few years, have been up against it. They're already dealing with other issues, the high input costs that include fuel and feed and water, fertilizer and indeed, regulatory changes, which have seen them have to deal with more government agencies more frequently. There's more paperwork, and we're seeing that in the water space alone. And so what happens, I think, Dave, is that these issues start to merge with each other. They start to pile up a little bit, and our farmers can feel under pressure.

And so, I think what's really important, and why I'm talking about this issue so strongly at the outset, is that we need to have these conversations early. We don't need to be in the grip of a drought 18 months in, if that's where it starts to go before we start having the conversations we need to get to get those conversations happening early so that farmers can be prepared as best they can. They know what support is available, and the government starts to turn its mind to Okay, well, what else do we need to do? Should this situation worsen? We don't want it to. Of course, rain will just make most of these issues and these conversations not be so necessary.

Dave Eisenhauer: Absolutely,

Steph Cooke: however, if it doesn't come, we need to be ready.

Dave Eisenhauer: And Steph, we've got opportunities like drought hub.nsw.gov.au, I know we mentioned that there yesterday, that's one option for financial. I mean, there's all sorts of different options, but for you to raise it yesterday, and of course, then Justin raised it as well in state parliament to make I mean, people in the city may not be quite aware, and we know they're not as aware as we are out here, because they don't face the same issues that we face places such out here, especially on our farms. But I tell you what, we need to take a photo, Steph, of those big white lines out there around sort of tomorrow district where you grew up, and just show them the pictures of those massive plumes of dust and the confidence than that. I mean, it's, it's almost like a farmer with a crystal ball. It's a bit fuzzy and hazy at the moment because it's not showing much, but they still get out there and do the job, and we need to get in to support them.

Steph Cooke: Oh, look, absolutely, and it was quite timely yesterday to be asking the question of the Deputy Premier, representing the Premier in question time yesterday,

the tough questions about what this government is up to with respect to preparedness. I'll get it on. Well, they have. The Deputy Premier has undertaken to ask the question of the relevant Minister, as the Deputy Premier put it, there isn't one relevant Minister when it comes to drought, because it crosses over. It crosses over, AG, regional New South Wales, water, mental health. It is one of those issues that cuts across many, many portfolios in government, and we know that the last drought that we went through, what we now know is the tinderbox drought, where things dried out very, very quickly, much more quickly, I think, than anybody expected. It required a whole of government approach that ended up resulting in four and a half billion dollars in drought support for farmers right across New South Wales.

So we are, I think, at the start of this journey, now, hopefully it won't be needed, but if it is, we need to make sure that city based members of parliament are really across what's happening out in our part of the world, and in some respects, it's not their fault that they don't have that awareness. I mean, down here in Sydney, they've just come off the back of about 11 or 12 days straight of rain, and you just think, wow, if we could only send that West. But part of my job down here, and it's one that I take very seriously, is to make sure that all members of parliament right across the political divide are aware of the issues that are happening in my in my own electorate, and indeed, for the water space right across regional and rural New South Wales.

Dave Eisenhauer: And one thing that's been coming up a lot on the socials and various different avenues is not so much the loans and things of that stuff, it's the assistance in transportation costs and the purchase of fodder, and on one post, I saw those big square bales, about $130 or so each if you've got a stack of cattle. I mean, our markets are filling up with cattle, it backed off a little bit. I noticed there this week in Summit centres, but, I mean, that's a huge cost that's going on.

I'm just looking back to the hay runners and those, remember, those, those trucks that used to run about, weren't they a terrific asset? The communities got right behind the drought. This is when the state was going into drought, badly,

Steph Cooke: absolutely. Look, we know as rural communities, and indeed as a state, that we're very good at rallying around our farmers when they need that extra support, and I have no doubt that in the future, if it were required, that that will happen. There's no from, In my in my mind, the easiest next step that the government could turn their mind to is subsidies for transport, fodder and water. They are the three, the three key input areas that keep our farmers going, and I think the subsidies in that respect would be the really good place to start.

And then as the situation either improves, then that can be dialled down. And if the situation doesn't improve so much, then that support can be dialled up, and by the time we got through the last drought, we were supporting councils with community based programs, with events to keep people together. There was a number of support measures rolled out, but it was ramped up over time as we entered 3,4,5, years of drought in some parts of New South Wales. So, this is now, I think, what we need to take a long view on, and if the last drought showed us anything, it's that, if you are flat footed in your response, then it's very, very hard to catch up, and what we saw, of course, was off the back of that drought, those terrible bushfires, that's right at the other end of it. So, these are the sorts of things that we need to make sure we learn the lessons from previous natural disasters.

I think the state is much better positioned now to do so, and sometimes what it requires, as I'm trying to do down here in Parliament, is to shine a spotlight on what might be the start of that journey I don't know, one way or another, whether it will or it won't be only the rain will determine that

Dave Eisenhauer: That's right, it.

Steph Cooke: Exactly. We don't want this to be the case, but if the rain does not come, as we need it to so desperately, then we need the government to be informed and well positioned to respond.

Dave Eisenhauer: Indeed. Steph, I mean, you've got the fifth biggest electorate in the country, it's huge and such a responsibility, especially when we get into these districts with the conditions of they are, but there's so many other things. I mean, this is just one. It's a fairly important, fairly important, very important issue at the moment. Steph, but just quickly, before we head off at six to nine, other things that are making news around your electorate at the moment.

Steph Cooke: Oh, look, there's, there's always plenty going on. We just come off some Anzac Day. You know the days they just go from one to the next, don't they very easy to move on and very quickly from these things. But this is the first time I've had the chance to touch base with you since Anzac Day, and I just want to say a huge thank you to all of the RSL sub branches across the electorate and all of the community volunteers that pulled together some incredible Anzac Day Services right across the Cootamundra electorate, the one in Gundagai, of course, is absolutely what an extraordinary event they put on every single year. And full credit to that sub-branch, Cootamundra was no different. I was in the north of the electorate this year and had the opportunity to be in Cowra. Of course, I start in Wombat for the dawn service and then made my way back down to Stockinbingal in time for the afternoon service there.

So it was really great to see the photos and the feedback from our communities, honouring our personnel, their military service and those, of course, sort of pay the ultimate price for the for the freedoms that we enjoy today. So that was fantastic, and of course, we've got Mother's Day coming up this Sunday. We must give that a huge shout out, especially as a, I think I have to now say retired florist. I hate the thought of the fact that I'm no longer an active florist, but for all of the retailers and the businesses out there who have got Mother's Day coming up, it will be a bit of a busy time for you and to people in our local communities. If you can, please support our local businesses, for Mother's Day is an important occasion, not just for mums, but for our local businesses as well.

Dave Eisenhauer: Isn't that so true? Steph, well said, and Steph, it's nearly news time. Thank you so much for joining us. Great chat. A lot of focus on the dry conditions, but that's very, very important, and we're not going to give up on that either, like you are in Parliament at the moment, the bells are ringing soon. Appreciate your time. Steph Cooke, thank you for joining us.

Steph Cooke: Thank you so much, Dave.

Dave Eisenhauer: There you go, Member for Cootamundra, the Honourable Steph Cooke that joins us there, of course, of Shadow Minister for water and a major focus on that particular, particularly important portfolio, any time of the year, whether it's droughts or flooding rains, but especially during these dry conditions and the declaration of drought for the Cootamundra Gundagai Snowy Valley's region, because Justin Clancy followed Steph yesterday, and talking, of course, about how dry conditions are and all the best. Steph to your dad as well. Steph Dad just had double knee surgery, so sending regards to Steph’s Dad over in Wagga, Wagga at the moment as well.