Economic diversity is a part of drought plan

FEDERAL Labor has promised $20 million to continue funding a program aimed at helping drought-stricken communities boost their local economies.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and federal ALP agriculture spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon recently visited Longreach, Queensland, to announce Labor’s regional economic development fund, which would help local councils fund shovel-ready projects.

The scheme would essentially continue the existing Drought Communities Program, which provided $35 million to eligible drought-affected councils over four years.

That cash is set to run out at the end of this financial year, however, and the Federal Government has yet to renew the funding, pending a review of the program.

Mr Shorten said Labor’s fund would “be redesigned to provide local communities with the support they need”, with an eye towards projects that diversify local economies.

“Local councils know what the community needs to get back on track – which is why we will work directly with them to fund projects,” he said in a statement.

“This new fund is all about providing that extra bit of targeted assistance direct to local councils, harnessing the local ideas and know-how only held by those on the frontline of the drought.”

Possible projects include local road infrastructure upgrades, small-scale developments such as community centres and sports ovals, boosting tourism opportunities or attracting new industries to a town.

“It’s not just the farming families being hurt by drought, it’s local regional communities and townships,” Mr Fitzgibbon said, speaking from LaTrobe Station, Longreach.

“Consumption, spending in those towns of course, has fallen away as the drought grows worse.”