September 19, 2018
Agriculture Minister Mark Furner announced on Wednesday that portions of the Western Downs Regional Council area – including the region around Bell and Jandowae – have been drought declared.
This takes the total area of Queensland drought declared to 58.13 per cent.
“Local Drought Committees always meet at the end of the wet season, around April, to assess seasonal conditions and make recommendations to me about the drought status of their areas,” Mr Furner said.
“The Western Downs LDC met in April, and based on the improved conditions at the time, recommended the drought status be revoked based on a number of useful rainfall events between October 2017 and March 2018 for the majority of the Shire, which had led to improved pasture growth, cropping outlooks and property water supplies.
“Unfortunately since then, there has been a significant and rapid deterioration in seasonal conditions in the eastern part of the council region, which prompted the Western Downs LDC to meet again to review current conditions.
“The area around Dalby has received well below, or no rainfall since April, warmer-than-average daytime temperatures and some quite severe frost events.
“These conditions have combined to cause a serious and rapid deterioration in the seasonal conditions across the Shire.
“Drought-declared producers are able to access Drought Relief Assistance Scheme fodder and water freight subsidies and emergency water infrastructure rebates, as well as access other programs in the Queensland Drought Assistance Package.
“This includes relief from electricity charges, land rent rebates and water licence waivers as well as access to a number of community and mental health programs.
“However, I’d like to stress that even if a producer lives in a Shire that is not drought declared, they can apply for an Individually Droughted Property (IDP) declaration which gives them access to the same relief assistance.
“I’d also like to reiterate that primary producers wishing to access the federal government’s Farm Household Allowance do not require a drought declaration.
“Access to the Federal Government’s Farm Household Allowance, including the recently announced $12,000 farm household assistance grants, is not dependent on area drought declarations made by the Queensland Government.
“Recent claims by some politicians that a drought declaration is required to access to the Farm Household Allowance are not true.
“The Farm Household Allowance is based on need, not seasonal conditions.”
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Mr Furner also announced he had decided to “refresh” the membership of the Western Downs Local Drought Committee.
“It is my view that the committee process has been manipulated for political gain,” Mr Furner said.
“The LDCs are meant to be free from political influence, to avoid lobbying, and ensure members are free to make unencumbered decisions based on science that will serve the community for the coming 12 months.
“Given that I believe the committee has been compromised, I have instructed the department to relieve the LDC of their duties.”
The move follows a claim last month by local LNP MP Ann Leahy she had been advised by members of the LDC that they had expressed a desire to re-convene and re-assess but had been denied the opportunity by the Department of Agriculture.
At the time, Mr Furner said DAF had not denied the LDC the opportunity to meet.
“At this stage no members of the Western Downs LDC have formally requested a meeting, although I am aware the LDC is discussing the situation,” Mr Furner said.
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