❓ WA Agriculture Minister addresses concerns regarding the federal government's aid package for farmers, highlighting communication issues and complexities in loan delivery. He awaits a response from the federal minister after outlining concerns in a letter.
AnsweredQoN 11Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
FARMERS — ASSISTANCE PACKAGE
11. Hon KEN TRAVERS to the Minister for Agriculture
and Food:
My question without notice is very
similar to Hon Philip Gardiner's. By way of introduction, I congratulate the minister on his appointment
to his ministerial position.
I refer to the minister's
comments last week that he is awaiting formal confirmation of key aspects of
the federal government's multimillion-dollar aid package for farmers.
(1) What are the key aspects holding
up this package?
(2) What action has the minister
taken to reach agreement with the commonwealth on the package?
(3) When did the minister raise any
concerns with the federal minister about the package?
(4) Will the
minister table any correspondence he has sent the federal minister outlining
his concerns; and, if not, why not?
(5) I think the
minister has already answered this question: when does the minister expect that
farmers will be able to —
(a) make applications for assistance
under this package; and
(b) receive funding assistance from
this package?
11. Hon KEN TRAVERS to the Minister for Agriculture
and Food:
My question without notice is very
similar to Hon Philip Gardiner's. By way of introduction, I congratulate the minister on his appointment
to his ministerial position.
I refer to the minister's
comments last week that he is awaiting formal confirmation of key aspects of
the federal government's multimillion-dollar aid package for farmers.
(1) What are the key aspects holding
up this package?
(2) What action has the minister
taken to reach agreement with the commonwealth on the package?
(3) When did the minister raise any
concerns with the federal minister about the package?
(4) Will the
minister table any correspondence he has sent the federal minister outlining
his concerns; and, if not, why not?
(5) I think the
minister has already answered this question: when does the minister expect that
farmers will be able to —
(a) make applications for assistance
under this package; and
(b) receive funding assistance from
this package?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank Hon Ken Travers for the question.
(1)–(5) First
of all, I had a telephone call. The first time I heard that $60 million would
be available to each state was on the radio on a Saturday morning in Broome.
The federal minister let the press know before the state agricultural minister
in Western Australia.
Hon Ken Travers : And as a government you notify him before you bag the
commonwealth?
Hon KEN BASTON : I actually spoke to him on the
phone the next day, Hon Ken Travers,
and told him it was a problem. I then attended what I call a ''SCoPI''
meeting in Sydney. I actually dined with the federal minister. All state
ministers were there. We discussed it verbally over the table. He said it was
not a problem: ''Here is what the interest rate is. Just let your
fellows behind the scenes know.'' It was not as simple as that; not as
simple at all. All the other states have a similar issue. The Department of
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry did not even understand the ramifications
of how the loan would be delivered. I wrote a letter last week to the federal
minister. I am waiting for an answer. I set out our concerns in that letter. I
have learnt that the state will not have to wear any losses on the loans.
Members must remember this is a loan—it is not money just being given
to us; it has to be paid back, with interest. We are now awaiting a response to
that. I believe that DAFF and the Western Australian Department of Agriculture
and Food are working together to have an outcome for that as soon as possible.
(1)–(5) First
of all, I had a telephone call. The first time I heard that $60 million would
be available to each state was on the radio on a Saturday morning in Broome.
The federal minister let the press know before the state agricultural minister
in Western Australia.
Hon Ken Travers : And as a government you notify him before you bag the
commonwealth?
Hon KEN BASTON : I actually spoke to him on the
phone the next day, Hon Ken Travers,
and told him it was a problem. I then attended what I call a ''SCoPI''
meeting in Sydney. I actually dined with the federal minister. All state
ministers were there. We discussed it verbally over the table. He said it was
not a problem: ''Here is what the interest rate is. Just let your
fellows behind the scenes know.'' It was not as simple as that; not as
simple at all. All the other states have a similar issue. The Department of
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry did not even understand the ramifications
of how the loan would be delivered. I wrote a letter last week to the federal
minister. I am waiting for an answer. I set out our concerns in that letter. I
have learnt that the state will not have to wear any losses on the loans.
Members must remember this is a loan—it is not money just being given
to us; it has to be paid back, with interest. We are now awaiting a response to
that. I believe that DAFF and the Western Australian Department of Agriculture
and Food are working together to have an outcome for that as soon as possible.
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