Drought Assistance

Mr TRELOAR (Flinders) (14:46): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Can the minister update the house on how the state government is supporting our farmers impacted by the drought?

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE (Chaffey—Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development) (14:47): Yes, I can. I thank the member for Flinders for his genuine question. On my visits over to Eyre Peninsula, we have seen firsthand the impacts of drought, particularly in large parts of the electorate of Flinders on Eyre Peninsula. Sadly, much of South Australia is drought affected, with 72 per cent drought declared. What it tells us is that many of those drought-affected farmers are now looking for support. Of course, this government's priority is the health and wellbeing of our farmers.

What I can say is that we have rolled out a number of initiatives to address the health and wellbeing of our farmers. On Tuesday, I was very proud to make an announcement, to stand side by side with our farmers: a $21 million package that will help both financially and to give them the support that they need inside the house and also giving them the skills—the financial literacy—that they are looking for.

The $21 million is made of a number of initiatives: $13.2 million goes towards council and pastoral rate rebates. That gives them some financial support. We know that many of our farming families on average pay about $15,500 dollars in council rates or in pastoral rates, and so we are going to help support them financially. We have also seen money going into Rural Business Support. A million dollars has gone into that business that is doing outstanding work, headed up by a team of dedicated people who are out there knocking on doors, giving people financial advice, offering them literacy so that they can actually look at ways and are able to access some of the commonwealth government's funding schemes.

When we look at the Farm Household Allowance, we look at the RIC. These are financial supports. The Farm Household Allowance gives a capacity for farmers and their families to access around $26,000 a year and that helps them with putting food on the table and making sure their kids get to school. We also look at the RIC loans. They are loans of up to $2 million and they are able to restructure their finances.

The Hon. S.C. Mullighan interjecting:

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: The member for Lee should listen because he might learn something here with finance.

The Hon. S.C. Mullighan: From you? I doubt it.

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: What I would say is that they can save over $120,000 in restructuring their finances, going through a really tough period. On Tuesday, I stood with minister McKenzie and minister Littleproud, with the commonwealth's financial assistance, and I was very proud that here the Marshall Liberal government's drought assistance funding sits side by side with the commonwealth's assistance package.

What I will say is that we have worked collaboratively together in making sure that we do not duplicate, like other states have, and in making sure that my dry working group continues to give me fearless and frank advice on the best way to support our farmers who have been drought affected and those families and communities who are all doing it extremely tough at the moment.

We have also put $5 million on the table for our on-farm water efficiency programs. That now gives a 50 per cent rebate, to a total expenditure of $100,000, so that they can droughtproof and futureproof their farms—being able to clean out dams and install new bores and pumps so that they can actually water their livestock and bring water to their homes and their yards on farm. These are important initiatives that have been designed not to duplicate but to work with industry and to give our farmers real support financially, mentally and on farm. It's about keeping the family structure together. I am very proud to say that this government has recognised the need, the necessity, for a drought support package that is giving them real momentum and real belief—because #RegionsMatter.