Steve Fielding (Victoria, Family First Party) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Wong. Last month at a Senate estimates committee, Minister Wong reconfirmed that the government’s $57 million Small Block Irrigators Exit Grant Package would provide to farmers who are struggling with the drought an exit grant of up to $150,000. But the minister did not reveal that these grants would be made available to Victorian farmers only if the Brumby Labor government agreed to abolish some water-trading rules. Minister, is it not cruel to string along desperate farmers for months allowing them to believe they would finally get an exit package but then ripping the money from them because the Rudd Labor government cannot sort out a dispute with the Brumby Labor government?