House of Assembly Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3) 51 3 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Drought Assistance DROUGHT ASSISTANCE Ms THOMPSON House of Assembly Reynell DROUGHT ASSISTANCE Ms THOMPSON (Reynell) (15:57): My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries. Minister, what recent initiatives has the government put in place in order to provide ongoing drought support for our state's primary producers? The Hon. P. CAICA House of Assembly Colton Minister for Agriculture Minister for Industrial Relations Minister for Forests Minister for Regional Development DROUGHT ASSISTANCE The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development) (15:57): The state government is continuing to provide significant support to assist rural communities affected by the drought. The government has recently announced a number of initiatives aimed at both ameliorating the effect of the drought on those communities and assisting them in planning for a sustainable future. The Planning for Recovery program open to farm businesses which have been approved for an exceptional circumstances interest rate subsidy forms part of phase 10 of the government's drought support measures. This program has played a pivotal role by assisting farmers through grants of up to $4,000 for the development of integrated business plans and up to $10,000 to make on-farm changes to help drought proof their businesses, bearing in mind, as people here would know, there is no such thing as drought proofing, but it is certainly of great assistance to them. Since its commencement in May 2007, the program has assisted more than 1,000 farm businesses to make on-farm changes such as modifying farm machinery for no till, improving livestock handling facilities and upgrading irrigation systems. Another initiative is the Family and Business Mentor program. This is a new initiative that provides a peer support service for drought-affected families who are struggling with the need to make objective decisions about their future. Many farming families have been put under considerable stress by the drought and the FAB mentors program is about peers helping each other to find a way forward, to clear their mind, communicate and take steps to seek further assistance from experts in the field. It provides a go-between role, supporting the functions of formal community counsellors and those specialising in rural finance. A trial program was funded by the government on Eyre Peninsula and Upper and Far North regions, involving 15 family businesses over a period of five months and the feedback was very positive. The full program commenced last week, with the first mentors based in Snowtown, the Birdsville Track and Mudamuckla—and that is on the Eyre Peninsula for those who do not know. The government is also recruiting additional mentors with a view to focusing on the Mallee and the Riverland. A third notable initiative is the Irrigated Industry Support Program for 2009-10, which was announced by the government last month and which will provide eligible irrigators along the River Murray with grants based on crop type, area and critical survival needs by reimbursing them for water purchases that will help to keep their permanent plantings alive. To access these grants, irrigators will need to demonstrate the viability of their business, and if they do not have a current business plan they will need to commit to developing one in the near future. A fourth initiative that I will mention today builds on the successful regional coordinators and task forces which have been established in the Riverland and the Mid North and on Eyre Peninsula. The state government is providing funding to support the Murray-Mallee and Upper South-East regions to form a drought recovery reference group. Mr Bill Davies has been appointed as a drought recovery coordinator and he will work closely with the reference group to coordinate drought recovery initiatives on behalf of the local community. These are commendable initiatives which underscore the deep commitment that this government has in continuing to support our vitally important regional industries and communities. In particular, I again wish to highlight the regional coordinators and task forces that are collectively doing an outstanding job in our regional and drought-affected areas.