June 4, 2014
Member for Maranoa Bruce Scott has told Federal Parliament he’s not sure if the Federal and State drought packages are enough to help support Queensland primary producers hit by drought.
Speaking in Parliament on Sunday. Mr Scott said drought was still gripping many parts of rural and remote Australia.
“Many parts have had some patchy relief rain, and I say very patchy, over the summer period and many of course missed out completely,” he said.
He said that with climate forecasts predicting an El Nino, he believed winter was going to be “a very bleak one with the situation worsening for many families and country towns”.
“It is not just the families on the land because, without a profit, without cash flow that would come from good season, that money is not circulating in many country towns,” Mr Scott said.
“The Queensland Government has already allocated something like $31 million towards this drought to support families.
“We as a Federal Government are going to provide another $300 million in a drought package at the start of July this year.
“But I am not quite sure that this is going to be enough.
“I, weekly, if not daily, get emails from producers who forward me the letter that they have had from the Queensland Rural Adjustment Authority rejecting their application for the financial package that we have provided as a Federal Government.
“It leaves these producers with very little option. They are looking down the barrel of perhaps exiting the land through, so often, no fault of their own — drought conditions and the impact that the live cattle debacle had on the capital value of these assets.
“I am concerned as we go into this winter with the worsening El Nino situation that I am going to receive more and more of these emails.
“I think we are going to have to do more.”
Mr Scott said he would be north of Longreach next weekend where many properties were looking at partially or totally destocking.
“This situation is worsening across many parts of Queensland, and I think we have to revisit this area to make sure we are not only providing the necessary support for the families and making sure country towns have some support, but also making sure banks are playing their part,” he said.
“I get letters from people who are saying that the banks are in many cases not prepared to refinance, notwithstanding they have had accommodation in terms of debt reduction, and I think there is a concern that we have to raise with our banks as well.”
