Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Ruston for her question. As senators will know, drought can have particularly significant impacts on the mental health and wellbeing of farmers, their families and their communities. So from 1 April my department will have designated drought coordinators who will be travelling specifically to drought affected areas, meeting with service providers, attending community meetings and supporting events to ensure that we have linked-up service delivery to assist those who need it most, to put them together with those who can actually help. Of course, there will also be the drought buses, which will bring my department's services to farmers' doorsteps. The staff on board those buses are brilliant: they can help farmers complete and lodge their claims, and they can refer people to other community support organisations for further assistance. I met people doing that sort of work in Uralla on Tuesday. The difference they are able to make to the lives of farmers suffering in this drought at the moment is not inconsequential; it is very significant, and they do a very important job.