Bruce Scott (Maranoa, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Is the minister aware that exceptional circumstances drought support for farmers in 17 regions in Queensland and New South Wales is due to expire in 10 days, on 15 June? Can the minister confirm that Centrelink is already advising distressed and drought-stricken farmers in my electorate that they will no longer be receiving exceptional circumstances support? And, since the minister received advice on the future of these drought declarations many weeks ago, when will the minister give certainty to these rural producers and local communities and make a public announcement about the future of this vital exceptional circumstances support?

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Maranoa for his question and for the opportunity to say publicly what I have said privately on this issue in conversations with many members on each side of the House. There are a large number of areas coming up for exceptional circumstances review at the moment. To say that I have had that report for many weeks is not strictly accurate, but you are right—it has been received by me.

Bruce Scott (Maranoa, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It expires in 10 days!

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, that is all appreciated. The concern is understandable and the concern is real. Many people from outside those regions would have been deceived by seeing images of floods over summer and would have thought that a flood means that a drought is over. It does not necessarily mean that, and it is important that reviews of exceptional circumstances are done accurately and in a timely way to try to give people certainty at the earliest possible opportunity.

There is a tension faced at these times—and I was speaking with one member from the opposite side of the House about this earlier today—which is the same tension that was faced by the previous government, which is that you want to make the assessment as early as possible in order to give certainty to people. At the same time, the earlier you make the assessment the higher the risk that you will actually disadvantage people by the answers that are given, if it does not subsequently rain subsequent to the assessment having been made. With that in mind, I expect that I will be able to make announcements following the NRAC reviews in the very near future.

The issue of Centrelink officers making information available prior to a decision being made does concern me and I will make some inquiries about that. For the benefit of the House I also add, because there has been some misinformation around about the impact of the drought reviews which are currently underway, that the drought reviews which are currently underway go to what the policy should be for future droughts. For people in the current drought the rules which have applied on a bipartisan basis continue. The NRAC assessments are being done by the same people who were appointed by the previous government under the same rules with the same benefits.

Bruce Scott (Maranoa, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I am happy for the benefit of the minister to table a letter from someone, providing the name of the constituent is protected, who has received that call from Centrelink.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If the member is seeking leave, leave is not granted.