New financial counselling funding announced, but federal Ag Minister implored for more
Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins says many farmers are mistakenly ruling themselves out of the Farm Household Allowance.
Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins was touring drought-stricken parts of SA for the first time today, saying she is ready to "listen to farmers" and the impact the drought was having on them, while also meeting with the state government to talk about drought assistance.
Pressure has been mounting on the Minister to visit since she was reannounced in the role following the federal election, and industry members have criticised the lack of new funding federally.
First stop on her two-day drought tour was the Brokenshire's dairy farm at Mount Compass, where she did announce $800,000 in new federal funding bound for Rural Financial Counselling Service providers in SA and Vic.
However, she also spoke about extending the Future Drought Fund Communities Program another four years at a cost of $36 million - funding already outlined in the FDF Investment Strategy earlier this year, according to the National Farmers' Federation.
Ms Collins said the tour would also include visits to grain and livestock producers, with Eudunda and Riverton on the schedule, before meeting with Premier Peter Malinauskas, Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven and primary producers in Adelaide tomorrow for a drought roundtable - discussions she said would be reported back to the Prime Minister.
SA Dairyfarmers' Association president Robert Brokenshire with federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins at Mount Compass today. Picture by Alisha Fogden
SA Dairyfarmers' Association president Robert Brokenshire said it was pleasing to see Ms Collins on the ground to witness the intensity of the SA drought.
"From a mental health point of view, it lifts a load off knowing the federal government has us on their radar and they are here, open minded and ready to listen to SA farmers," he said.
NFF president David Jochinke sd the tour was an important step in acknowledging the worsening crisis facing rural communities and welcomed the additional $800,000 RFCS funding.
He said the SA tour would provide an opportunity for the Minister to hear directly from farmers and industry leaders, including the NFF's local member, Primary Producers SA, about the worsening conditions and the urgent need for coordinated support.
"This visit sends a strong message to farmers that their voices are being heard in Canberra," he said.
"Each week, the situation worsens. April rainfall was below-average across much of the country, with parts of Vic, SA, Tas and WA recording their driest 14-month period on record.
"We look forward to continuing our engagement with the Minister to ensure farmers and regional communities get the support they need, both now and into the future."
The NFF was also pushing for the Prime Minister to tour drought-affected regions.
They wanted the federal government to extend the RIC's loan capacity past June 30, 2026, respond to the independent review of the RIC; and hold a 2025 National Drought Forum in a drought-affected region in southern Australia.
When questioned at the Brokenshire's dairy farm, the Minister said they would look into what solutions were available to help fix the ongoing fodder shortage.
But she was less open-minded about a review of the FHA asset limits.
"I appreciate the opportunity to talk on some of the confusion around the FHA and the $5.5 million upper limit," she said.
"I believe a lot of people have self-excluded themselves from being able to access the FHA.
"From the people that have applied, there has actually been very few that were ineligible.
"So I encourage people to talk to their accountants or go on the department website and have a look at the advice and guidance around the FHA.
"The way we fund drought in Australia changed fundamentally a long time ago, it's about resilience and about assistance being available all the time, such as our ongoing support through the RIC, FHA and Farm Management Deposit scheme."