Drought Assistance

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (15:20): Supplementary: with respect to the $1,500, what is the average turnaround time; that is, how long until they get their money?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:20): I thank the honourable member for his supplementary question. This is administered through Rural Business Support (RBS). The answer to the question will depend, I think, on the particular pathway that is taken by someone applying for those grants.

There is one option to fully engage with a counsellor and go through things such as individual business cashflow, potentially have advocacy in regard to debts if that is appropriate, and go through that full financial counselling service. The alternative is to engage with another officer—I am sorry, I can't think of the name of the title of the people within RBS—to demonstrate what the impact of the drought has been.

Obviously, the first one is a longer process because it is more holistic, looking at the overall business situation, and the second is more direct, but I know that they have been working very hard. I am also happy to share, again, with the chamber that we provided additional financial support to RBS to be able to undertake this work. I understand there has been strong engagement from RBS with both farming businesses and non-farming businesses.