Legislative Council Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1) 54 1 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Answers to Questions Answers to Questions Drought Assistance Drought Assistance The Hon. F. PANGALLO Legislative Council Drought Assistance In reply to the Hon. F. PANGALLO (17 October 2018). The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY Legislative Council Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Drought Assistance The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment): The Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development has advised: Under the Intergovernmental Agreement on National Drought Reform (IGA), signed up to by the former government in 2013, there is no longer a formal process for the declaration of drought. The IGA is currently being reviewed by the commonwealth, states and territories. The Marshall Liberal government has acknowledged a number of regional areas as being drought affected. These include Eyre Peninsula, Mid North, northern Yorke Peninsula, Murray Mallee, North East Pastoral and the northern pastoral areas. Further information can be found at: http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/grants_and_assistance/drought_support/outlook The state government has been in discussions with the Australian Banking Association and relevant banks regarding drought-affected areas in South Australia. On 19 October 2018, my department wrote to all banks, including the ANZ, providing information on the drought-affected areas of South Australia to assist them target their drought support packages. Following representations from the Marshall Liberal government and also from federal Liberal members Mr Rowan Ramsay MP, Member for Grey, and Mr Tony Pasin MP, Member for Barker, on 26 October 2018 the Hon. Scott Morrison MP, Prime Minister, announced 17 local government areas in South Australia as eligible for the Drought Communities Program.