Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator McMahon. This government is absolutely 100 per cent committed to supporting our farmers, and that includes our live cattle producers. This government has committed over $10 billion across the country to supporting drought response and recovery and preparedness actions following the 2019 floods. We also committed $3.3 billion in additional support measures. The National Drought and North Queensland Flood Response and Recovery Agency made available $300 million in grants to support restocking and replanting, as well as rebuilding on-farm infrastructure that was damaged. This funding is helping all agriculture but particularly our cattle producers to get back on their feet, because we know that when they are on their feet they do great things for the Australian economy.

We understand there will be another drought, which is why we put in place the permanent drought fund, so that we can provide $100 million a year during drought years to make sure that we are prepared and resilient to the impacts of droughts when they inevitably again occur in the future.