Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Regional Services) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Williams, for your question and your concern for drought-stricken farmers in your home state of New South Wales. We know that country communities around Australia are doing it tough because of drought: 100 per cent of New South Wales and large percentages of Queensland, Victoria and South Australia are in the middle of a long and exhausting drought. Our government is working hard to support farmers, families, small businesses and affected communities that are dealing with historically ongoing dry conditions. Scott Morrison, as Prime Minister, has prioritised our response to the drought, and I was pleased to join him in Quilpie, western Queensland, where we saw firsthand the devastating impacts that drought is having on families, businesses and communities. I'd like to particularly thank the Tullys, for sharing their six-year story about how the drought is affecting them, and to give a special shout-out to Hugo and all his online classmates today.

To date our government has pledged in excess of $1.8 billion in drought support, including cash on the table for farming families to help with groceries and daily living costs; more support for essential rural financial counsellors; assistance for their mental health issues; an increase in the asset test for access to the farm household allowance; and additional investment in water and fodder storage. People are relieved that we're in charge of drought relief and they're relieved that Barnaby Joyce, a farmer, is now coordinating the response as our drought envoy. This government knows that the drought is felt as hard on the main street as it is in the back paddock. That is why our drought response is designed to help farmers as well as the towns and communities that surround them. It is why, in addition to the assistance that we're providing to our farmers, we're also extending the Drought Communities Program to provide immediate relief to these drought-affected communities.