❓ Mr. Rundle questions the Minister for Water about reinstating the farm water rebate scheme for farmers in the Roe electorate. The Minister defends the decision not to reinstate it, citing the scheme's original purpose and the availability of other programs.
AnsweredQoN 143Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WATER CORPORATION —
STANDPIPE WATER SUPPLY — ROE ELECTORATE
143. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Minister for Water:
I have a supplementary question.
Will the minister reinstate the farm water rebate scheme to assist farmers to
improve their water supplies and, therefore, relieve pressure on the main system?
STANDPIPE WATER SUPPLY — ROE ELECTORATE
143. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Minister for Water:
I have a supplementary question.
Will the minister reinstate the farm water rebate scheme to assist farmers to
improve their water supplies and, therefore, relieve pressure on the main system?
AnswerView source ↗
Again, as the member for Roe knows,
that particular scheme was designed to assist individual farmers on their
properties. Money is still available for community water programs—again,
I hope the member is aware of that. The farm dam scheme has been in place for
many years. It was put in place to get the message out that people needed to
take action on their own properties to ensure their own water supplies.
Normally, when significant subsidies are offered, they are not offered forever.
It is done to get the message out to people. I would be very surprised if any
rural community had not got the message in the last 20 years the scheme has
been in place that they need to take action. Climate change is not new,
although some people on the member's side still deny it exists. It has
been out there for a long time. For that scheme, we still offer an incentive.
In fact, I think I increased the amount from $750 to $1 000 so that farmers who
want to do an audit on their properties can find out what they need to do to
improve their water supply. I increased the subsidy because I wanted farmers to
do the work on their properties and to find out what needed to be done. But
should the taxpayer then pay for up to, I think, 50 per cent of the work that
needs to be done? That scheme has been in place a long time. We have subsidised
solar panels and fridges, but gradually those subsidies were phased out once
the message was well and truly understood in the community. I think that the
message is well and truly understood. Climate change is real. Farmers need to
factor that into their business plans. They are the ones who have to take
primary responsibility for ensuring that their businesses are well maintained
as far as water security into the future is concerned.
that particular scheme was designed to assist individual farmers on their
properties. Money is still available for community water programs—again,
I hope the member is aware of that. The farm dam scheme has been in place for
many years. It was put in place to get the message out that people needed to
take action on their own properties to ensure their own water supplies.
Normally, when significant subsidies are offered, they are not offered forever.
It is done to get the message out to people. I would be very surprised if any
rural community had not got the message in the last 20 years the scheme has
been in place that they need to take action. Climate change is not new,
although some people on the member's side still deny it exists. It has
been out there for a long time. For that scheme, we still offer an incentive.
In fact, I think I increased the amount from $750 to $1 000 so that farmers who
want to do an audit on their properties can find out what they need to do to
improve their water supply. I increased the subsidy because I wanted farmers to
do the work on their properties and to find out what needed to be done. But
should the taxpayer then pay for up to, I think, 50 per cent of the work that
needs to be done? That scheme has been in place a long time. We have subsidised
solar panels and fridges, but gradually those subsidies were phased out once
the message was well and truly understood in the community. I think that the
message is well and truly understood. Climate change is real. Farmers need to
factor that into their business plans. They are the ones who have to take
primary responsibility for ensuring that their businesses are well maintained
as far as water security into the future is concerned.
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