Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you for that guidance, Mr President. The Prime Minister and the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry today announced that the government would be extending this support until 31 March 2008 for all eligible producers, worth another estimated $350 million. This is in addition to ongoing Australian government support such as the Farm Management Deposits scheme, which allows taxable primary product income to be set aside in profitable years and withdrawn later.

No-one knows for sure what has caused this drought. What is clear is that no-one should be foolish enough to believe that it could have been avoided had Australia signed the Kyoto treaty. The facts are that, even without signing, Australia is one of the few countries to be well on track to meet the Kyoto targets. What this crisis requires is practical assistance for farmers, practical and sensible ways to reduce our greenhouse emissions, and improved coordination and conservation of our water resources. That is what we are dedicating ourselves to, ably assisted by Senator Boswell.