Anne Webster (Mallee, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There are times in all our lives when the pressures of life can bear down uncomfortably and, over a prolonged period, can lead to mental health issues. In various areas of my electorate and, indeed, Australia where drought is an unrelenting fact there are whole communities who are bearing the weight of an unpredictable future. It is vital that they be able to depend on one another and on all levels of government to help them shoulder this weight. The Morrison-McCormack government has focused on our farming communities and is flexibly addressing the serious needs resulting from this prolonged drought in the here and now and into the future for our farmers and our communities. It is this last component I wish to speak about today.

The Drought Communities Program invests $1 million into shires that meet criteria determined by the department of the minister for drought. The funds have been well utilised by the Buloke shire and the local sporting community of Charlton. I had the privilege of being there yesterday to open the new Charlton Park. What a wonderful resilient community they are, who have shown through persistence and collaboration that great things can be achieved together. I commend the committee for pulling together the whole community and the various sporting clubs for coming together for the hope that is provided that community. Well done!