Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

The point I'm making is that the government has been acting each and every day on the issue of supporting rural communities in relation to the drought, whether it's been the immediate assistance that has been required to support communities, through the million dollar payments to each of the shires and councils around the country, or whether it has been to invest in the water infrastructure projects which build resilience. We are investing in those projects right now, and the Future Drought Fund will enable us to continue to invest in those drought resilience projects into the future. We are funding those drought resilience projects right now out of the budget, and from 1 July next year we will be drawing down $100 million out of a fund that will increase in value to $5 billion and provide permanent funding support for drought resilience projects in this country. So I have a simple question to put to those opposite: why won't you support farmers going through the drought? How on earth can the Leader of the Opposition—

Honourable members interjecting—

I will call him the Leader of the Opposition because I'm yet to find something that he doesn't oppose. He opposed us on tax relief for Australians, he opposed us on security measures, and now they oppose us on the drought fund. (Time expired)

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