Opposition Leader and Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington has welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement of more drought assistance to struggling farmers.
“Our farmers are the backbone of Queensland and we need to be doing everything we can to support our farming families during this unforgiving drought,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“They’re doing it tough and it’s important they know they aren’t facing this drought alone.”
AgForce Queensland also welcomed the extra financial support, which it said would help drought-affected farming families put food on the table and meet essential household expenses.
AgForce General President Grant Maudsley said more than half of Queensland was still drought-declared and the prolonged nature of the drought was taking an enormous financial, emotional and environmental toll on many regional communities.
“Parts of western and southern Queensland have been in drought for more than six years, which has overwhelmed even the best efforts of producers to prepare,” he said.
“These emergency cash payments will help those farmers who have had little or no income, while the changes to the asset cap will ensure more farmers are eligible for assistance.
“The extra funding for the Rural Financial Counselling Service is also very welcome, and we urge farmers to use this service and seek advice on how to apply for the Farm Household Allowance.”
On Sunday, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced special emergency payments of up to $12,000 a year to eligible farming families, to be made through the Farm Household Allowance scheme.
Currently farmers on the FHA receive a payment equivalent to the unemployment benefit.
The latest announcement will mean couples will receive up to $12,000 in extra payments and single households will get $7200.
The first payment will be made on September 1 with a second on March 1, 2019.
The eligibility criteria for accessing the FHA will also be relaxed so farmers with up to $5 million in assets will still be able to apply. Previously the cut-off was $2.6 million.
An extra $5 million has also been allocated to Rural Financial Counsellors.
