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

Thank you, Senator Davey, for your question. I know that it is something near and dear to your heart as a senator who bases herself out in regional New South Wales, where so many of our farmers are struggling with the drought. The Liberal-National government continues to stand with our farmers and regional communities as they struggle with the ongoing drought. We know that heading into summer the rain signs are not great, and that is why we're taking immediate action in the here and now, but we're also assisting communities and the agriculture sector more broadly to prepare for the future.

Support in times of hardship is part of what is needed to help farmers and their communities through these difficult times, which is why on 27 September, with the Minister for Water Resources, Drought, Rural Finance, Natural Disaster and Emergency Management, Minister Littleproud, the Prime Minister and I headed out to David Gooding's farm in Dalby to announce an additional $100 million worth of support to our drought-affected communities—radically simplifying the farm household allowance, its application process and its key policy settings; resuming the Drought Community Support Initiative, which puts $3,000 cash into the hands and onto the kitchen tables of these farming families; and extending the Drought Communities Program, making sure that 13 additional local councils can access $1 million to build local projects and, therefore, employ locals.

Firstly, for those here-and-now perspectives, we've got the farm household allowance, additional rural financial counsellors, the Drought Community Support Initiative, important mental health services, wellbeing support, concessional loans and generous taxation measures. Secondly, there are broader measures in the medium term. Thirdly, there are programs to assist the long-term resilience and preparedness, including our $5 billion Future Drought Fund. The message to farmers and our communities across Australia is very clear: we know that times are tough, but we will stand with you now and through the recovery.