Millions in drought aid
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the funds in Dalby
JUST hours after getting off a flight from the United States, Prime Minister Scott Morrison paid a quick visit to Dalby to see the impact of the drought.
Mr Morrison, who landed at Wellcamp Airport at lunch time, travelled to the Western Downs town yesterday to announce $100 million worth of funding dedicated to droughtstricken farmers in regional Queensland.
Farmers will be eligible to receive a $3000 handout per household to contribute to family costs, while an injection of $740,000 will go towards five Rural Financial Counselling Service providers to help combat the mental health crisis plaguing struggling farmers.
Mr Morrison described the funding as a “comprehensive response” to a drought that had lasted for close to a decade.
“When we made our response, we said it wasn’t set and forget,” he said. “So long as the drought goes on, so does our response.”
Drought Minister David Littleproud said a total of $7 billion would be pledged towards farmers in our rural communities, including the $100 million injection announced yesterday.
“This is real money that’s going to hit the ground of rural and regional communities to get them through this drought,” he said.
“We will not stop, and we will continue to work with communities and primary producers to make sure our response is adequate.
“It will rain, and when it rains we’re going to make a lot of money. But we’ve got a lot of families to get through this drought, and make sure we work with them.”
Western Downs mayor Paul McVeigh said the funding was a step in the right direction.