OVER the past two weeks there is not a paper, television, radio or Facebook feed that has not oozed with bleeding hearts about the drought.
It’s been a shock-wave of grief and woe.
One would have thought that the big dry started only last month.
In fact, it looks like the drought has come to Sydney’s doorstep and that's why it’s suddenly a national crisis.
Fortunately, south-east Queensland has been lucky, having recorded reasonable wet seasons over the past few years.
But how about a shout-out to the poor souls of western Queensland who have been battling these conditions for years?
The media rejoices in the devastation but does little to celebrate the farmer who ingeniously has drought-proofed his enterprise, diversified his income or installed water systems.
The story for many is one of remarkable resilience in the face of tough climatic conditions, not one of woe and handouts.
Australian farmers stand mostly on their own and have to manage their land, stock and their balance sheet to survive this drought and the next.
Regardless, grief sells.
Politicians jump on the bandwagon because donning an Akubra and supporting farmers buys more votes.
There are about 90,000 farmers in Australia.
Fewer than three per cent of these people are receiving funding and those with stock and a bit of rain have been doing well on the back of boom prices.
We need a conversation about drought aid and whether or not it is appropriate and delivered in the right way.
Even the word “drought” in our lexicon needs to be looked at on a continent where dry times substantially outnumber good seasons.
A conversation also could explain the benefits of building an inland rail system for efficient movement of grain and fodder across the continent.
We need strong and fair trade agreements with our global markets that protect our agricultural industries from unfair levels of subsidy and tariffs.
Such a conversation would be far more positive in this latest media spotlight and much more use than another tear-jerking story of grief, despair and a fake Akubra, shot in a paddock somewhere west of Bourke.