Perin Davey (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture, Senator Ruston. Despite recent very welcome rainfall, most of New South Wales is still in drought or is drought-affected, which became very apparent to me last week when I was with charity organisations in drought-affected Molong. How is the government continuing to support these drought-affected communities?

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong on a point of order?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I just want to be clear with the minister that if she wishes us to give leave to Senator McKenzie to add to the answer, we will do so.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong, that's not a point of order. You know better than that. Senator Cormann?

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, that was not a point of order. That was just another demonstration of the juvenile nature of Labor politics in Australia today.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'll declare that 15 all, with two people who should know better both making points of order that were not. Senator Ruston, to answer the question.

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

I thank fellow regional senator, Senator Davey, for her question. We both know that people living in rural and regional communities know that drought is not like fire or flood. It doesn't just occur; it creeps up slowly. But when it actually takes effect, it has a massive effect on our regional communities. As you rightly point out, we've had some great rain, and obviously we want more. But it hasn't been enough to break the drought. We're going to need an awful lot more rain, and it's going to be long time, even after those rains, before our rural and regional communities are going to recover.

Despite the rain, 98.8 per cent of rural and regional New South Wales, your home state, is in drought, with 22 per cent classified as being in intense drought. The Australian government is absolutely committed to assisting our rural and regional communities through this terrible drought, with over $8 billion now having been put into recovery actions and initiatives. Just last week the government extended its Drought Community Support Initiative, with another $82.75 million of continued funding to assist households that are battling this terrible, terrible drought, on top of the commitments that have already gone out the door—$180 million—and in New South Wales alone that's $36 million that's been invested in eligible household support.

Since May last year the government has rolled out more than $1 billion in grants and payments to support our regional communities. We've announced the appointment of the drought coordinator, Shane Stone, to make sure we work with our states and territories, because it's really important that we work together so that we play an important role of coordination and collaboration and make sure we get the very best out of every dollar that's been invested so that we are targeting our farmers and their communities so that they receive the support they need. It remains a key priority of this government.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Davey, a supplementary question?

Perin Davey (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the minister please explain how the government's actions are helping to build a stronger and more-resilient Australia for farmers as they continue to struggle with this drought?

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

There are a range of measures available to farmers who are struggling with drought. Recognising that there is no one-size-fits-all model here, we need work individually with farmers and their communities to make sure that we are targeting and putting the right and appropriate drought supports in place for our farmers. As an example, one of the most important measures has been the farm household allowance. It's a safety net, and it's there to make sure that our farmers have the dignity and the respect that they deserve during these tough times and to make sure farming families can put food on the table. Also, in response to our significant drought conditions last year, we changed the existing drought loans eligibility and criteria through the Regional Investment Corporation to make sure that we could get money to farmers that was interest free over the next two years so that they would not be burdened with the interest. We continue to invest in our farming communities because we know they need our help.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Davey, a final supplementary question?

Perin Davey (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What support is there to help build resilience across the communities, specifically in associated industries like agronomy and in farm supply companies that have seen their incomes fall as well as a result of this ongoing, incessant drought?

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

Senator Davey makes a very good point, because it's not just the farmers who are impacted. Drought doesn't stop at the farm gate; it extends to the mechanics who have to fix their tractors. It might impact the schools and the number of children who are actually going into town to be educated. It might impact local businesses that are just so vital to the fabric of the community. Last month, another 52 local government areas applied for and were successful in getting the million-dollar Drought Communities Program funding to stimulate their local economies, to make sure that there was money in the economy to allow the money to flow through to these communities and the small businesses in these towns. It's about making sure that we support the local tradies. It might be through supporting local products being bought and local jobs in the communities. In your home state of New South Wales, Senator Davey, $121 million has been committed to New South Wales shires to make sure that we are supporting the local governments to support their communities. (Time expired)