Former National Party MP Vaughan Johnson has been appointed one of two new volunteer Queensland drought commissioners by the State Government.
The second commissioner is former ALP candidate for Warrego Mark O’Brien.
Both men previously served together as wild dog commissioners.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Mr Johnson and Mr O’Brien had agreed to work without remuneration to personally provide her with first-hand information about the effectiveness of drought assistance across affected areas of Queensland.
“This work will build on the success Mark and Vaughan have had as wild dog commissioners across western Queensland, and their own experience in working with welfare and community groups throughout our regions,” she said.
“Mark has over a decade of experience working with St Vincent De Paul throughout south-west Queensland and on the organisation’s State board, and Vaughan Johnson was a member of the Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal Fund Distribution Committee through the devastating 2011 floods.
“They’ll advise Minister for Agricultural Industry Development Mark Furner and I about what is working best, and how things can be improved to deliver support to the farmers, families and small business who are doing it so tough in drought affected communities.”
The Premier also outlined an additional $8 million in funding to support mental health and financial counselling services.
“Unlike other natural disasters, the effects of drought are felt over the long-term, so $4 million will go to the Wellbeing Service provided by the Royal Flying Doctor Service over the next four years,” the Premier said.
“There’ll be more mental health assistance through another $2 million over two years for the Tackling Regional Adversity through Integrated Care program in drought-affected communities.
“And we will also allocate $2 million over two years to an expanded Small Business Financial Counselling Service to help drought affected farmers navigate these extremely stressful situations.
“That’s $8 million in total over four years to help people keep going and to help their farms and businesses keep going through this devastating drought.”
Agriculture Minister Mark Furner said an extra $1 million would put towards helping farmers access all-important fodder for their stock.
“We can’t make it rain, but we can ease the burden of keeping stock alive,” Mr Furner said.
“We will inject another $1 million to increase to 2000km the maximum distance that fodder can be transported at a subsidised rate.
“This allows fodder to be transported to the most northerly drought affected area in Queensland, just south of Normanton, from the Mallee in Victoria, where fodder is available – at the subsidised rate.
“For farmers for whom every cent is vital, this provides the potential to keep getting feed to stock.”
