Qld: 800 families expected to walk off Qld farms in next year

AAP General News (Australia)
12-04-1999
Qld: 800 families expected to walk off Qld farms in next year

BRISBANE, Dec 4 AAP - A tougher world economy will force more than 800 Queensland families
off their farms in the next 12 months, according to a report in The Courier Mail newspaper.

The newspaper said the sugar industry would be the hardest hit because of falling world prices.

Queensland Legal Aid lawyer Lee Nevison, who specialises in negotiations with banks
on behalf of farmers, believes that up to 2,600 farm families will struggle next year.

"I was in a bank mediation this week and in three hours there were 12 phone messages
from farming people needing urgent help," Mr Nevison told the newspaper.

He said some rural families seeking help had not eaten for up to four days and others
were living without power and water.

AAP ch/cdhu

KEYWORD: FARM

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