Minister for Drought David Littleproud won support through the Ministerial Council for a new working group to try and integrate Commonwealth, State and Territory drought relief programs and report back by February 2020.
The working group, a partnership between the new National Drought Agency and the National Farmers’ Federation, will get rid of inefficiencies and doubling up to improve access for affected farms and communities to recovery programs.
It will improve their effectiveness and ensure the right assistance is delivered at the right time, to farmers and communities.
Ministers also agreed the group would be a standing item on the Ministerial Council agenda.
“States last year (2018) signed up to the National Drought Agreement and as the next step at today’s (December 10 2019) Ministerial Council, they have agreed to report on their current assistance measures,” Minister Littleproud said.
“This brings more transparency for farmers who want to access help, and less red tape.
“It also means there will be greater confidence in what help is available.
“Each government currently offers a variety of different drought measures.
“We have a responsibility to ensure that drought assistance is complementary at the different levels of government, and not working against other assistance measures.
“This is a step forward in the way the system is being delivered and I have great confidence a new Drought Commissioner will be able to fully inform our farmers and communities about what is available.”
Source: Australian Government