Letters to editor: Difficult times, but data paints a picture

Many farmers will have destocked or agisted completely under the current drought conditions and may be unsure about whether to lodge a return or not.

Their data is still an important piece of the State’s livestock picture and vital in managing emergencies such as fire, flood and disease outbreaks.

Local Land Services is working closely with the State’s drought-affected farmers and is conscious the return comes at a tough time for many.

We understand many farmers are managing challenging drought conditions and have sold or agisted their stock off-property.

Filling in an annual land and stock return may be confronting in these conditions. However, we still ask for your support; your information is still an essential part of the State’s land use and livestock picture.

This information helps us go directly to the people whose land or stock may be most affected in an emergency.

The stock numbers provided are also used to determine the animal health rate and meat industry levy components of landholders’ 2019 rates notices.

Landholders who don’t lodge their return are automatically charged with the animal health rate and meat industry levy.

All landholders with rateable land or a property identification code need to lodge a return by August 31.

Landholders can mail back their completed form or complete online at www.lls.nsw.gov.au.

ON BEHALF of the Stroke Foundation, I welcome the NSW Government’s $25 billion budget boost for health, in particular the $60 million investment in cardiovascular medical research including stroke.

I applaud the State Government for its foresight in advancing innovation to stem the increasing impact of stroke and other cardiovascular disease on the community and the health system.

NSW is home to 12 of Australia’s top 20 hot spots for stroke incidence. This year alone almost 19,000 strokes will be experienced by the people of our State.

Too many people are losing their lives or being left with an ongoing disability as a result of stroke, but it does not need to be this way.

Stroke is a largely preventable and treatable disease. Research will help us beat it.

It is also important to ensure these innovations, when they come, are translated into improved practice benefiting all NSW residents.

Currently, people of NSW are forced into a cruel lottery of stroke treatment and care.

Some patients do have access to first-class health services, however most do not. Patient outcomes vary widely depending on where people live, with those in the State’s regional and rural areas worst impacted.

We must ensure all patients across the State get world-class, timely care in our hospitals and health services no matter where they live – treatment and ongoing specialist care that we know saves lives.

The State Government’s record investment in infrastructure and emergency response are vital steps forward.