Two years of almost constant drought in north western Australia has devastated livestock numbers, according to reports in the UK press. Vast tracts of formerly fertile pasture and agricultural land in the New South Wales outback, for example, have become dry, barren wastelands. Almost 90% of New South Wales and a fifth of neighbouring Queensland – a total area of more than 400,000 square miles – have already been declared as suffering from drought.

The most badly affected farmers are now relying on government subsidies and welfare benefits to survive, and many are expected to sell up after the rains eventually arrive as they cannot afford replacement stock.

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