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

Thank you, Senator Williams, for your question. We're absolutely supporting farmers in rural communities through a comprehensive package on drought measures. The recent rain across some parts of New South Wales, such as in your home town of Inverell, is incredibly welcome. I understand you've had 7½ inches since July, but I want to remind the Senate that this initial recent rain for our farmers and small businesses needs to be more and more frequent to get them back on their feet. That's why we, as a government, have extended the Drought Communities Program to provide real relief right across rural and regional areas affected by drought.

Rural businesses also do it tough during drought and during the recovery period. They are the local job creators and they contribute immensely to our communities economically, employing so many in our communities. They also fulfil a social role, sponsoring our local football and netball teams and the like. They're key stakeholders in ensuring we have vibrant regional communities post drought. Recently I joined the Prime Minister and the member for Calare, Andrew Gee, in Blayney, just outside of Bathurst, at a farm and rural supply business. Owners Michelle and Angus Pryse Jones spoke of the knock-on effects of the drought hitting the community hard and welcomed our government's investment to support local jobs and businesses.

The Mayor of Blayney, Scott Ferguson, also expressed that the local community and businesses were seeing a drop-off of upwards of 30 per cent in economic spend within the community. Our $75 million investment which will go to local councils for projects that will be procured through local businesses and employ locals is absolutely crucial to sustaining these small, regional, drought-affected towns. Similarly, a $190,000 investment to the Coonamble Shire Council to improve local infrastructure created seven jobs and used materials sourced from six small, local businesses. We can support communities like this because of our strong economic management.