Rowan Ramsey (Grey, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I must say that I'm disappointed in that attitude from the shadow minister for agriculture. This is an important issue and it was clear that the member had a 10-minute speaking session.

Drought is trying, but it is part of the Australian landscape. I'm a strong supporter of the positive measures this government, the coalition government, has provided over a period of time for farmers to prepare for drought—none better of course than the FMDs, which were established by the Howard government. Following lobbying by me and a number of other members from rural areas, the investment limits were doubled in the last two years. Another measure is the immediate tax write-off for fodder storage. Nothing could be more important in preparing for drought than having more grain sheds and more hay sheds to hold more fodder. There is also the immediate write-off for water infrastructure and fencing. These schemes are supporting farmers to prepare for drought—to make their properties drought-proof, if you like.

But sometimes, beyond any ability of rural businesses and individual businesses to cope, the droughts go on. In that regard, this government has been very responsive, with the Farm Household Support Allowance extra $12,000 cash payment and the farm business improvement and drought concessional loans. Other speakers spoke briefly about the Regional Investment Corporation. I must say, from a South Australian point of view, that we had always been disappointed with our South Australian department, PIRSA, in managing these drought loans, and we are very pleased to see these loans brought into the national level. In addition, the Rural Financial Counselling Service, which of course is available to farmers, has had its budget substantially increased to deal with the load. There is also support for farmers seeking to engage in multi-peril crop insurance.

In South Australia, more lately, I petitioned Minister McKenzie, Minister McCormack and the Prime Minister to extend to the Drought Communities Program from the eastern states to South Australia. Sixty councils in New South Wales and Queensland have received or are eligible to receive up to $1 million each. I thank Minister McKenzie for making $17 million available to 17 regional councils in South Australia—13 in my electorate of Grey. It is a real shot in the arm for local businesses, and I am looking forward to those projects rolling out. I have a couple of councils that I think were a little unfortunate to miss the criteria, and I continue to speak to the minister about those councils.

I thank Rural Aid and their Buy a Bale for coming to South Australia. In early August, I contacted Wayne Thomson from Rural Aid about bringing that program to South Australia to allow South Australian donors to support South Australian farmers and allow South Australians farmers to register their requirements on their website. That is exactly what they have done, and there have been deliveries of hay into South Australia. I was very pleased to be with Wayne Thomson in a drought affected paddock east of Eudunda a few weeks ago when they dropped off a load. The farmers are visibly moved, not just by the hay supplies but by the fact that they know that people care and want to help them out. That is very rewarding. I congratulate Steve Willas from EP Grain and Mentally Fit EP for their effort in collecting and distributing hay on the Eyre Peninsula.

I was out inspecting properties at Worlds End and Geranium Plains with Steph and Simon Schmidt. Steph mentioned to me that the NAB had raised the prospect of giving interest rate reductions to drought affected farmers in areas that were drought declared. I was a bit concerned about this, as she was, as South Australia does not have drought declarations. I met with NAB subsequently in the parliament here. They changed the wording of the availability of that help for farmers and are using a PIRSA map for South Australia now. That has put South Australia on exactly the same footing as the other states when it comes to NAB. I subsequently contacted Anna Bligh from the Australian Banking Association and said, 'Do you think you could press the rest of your major banks to deliver a similar service?' She said, 'Yes, I will try,' and within two weeks we had a letter from the ABA committing just that, which I have been furnishing to farmers and other people within the electorate to make sure that when they go in and negotiate with their banks they know that their banks are committed to helping them through this tough time. I thank them for that support.

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