❓ Hon. Colin de Grussa questions the adequacy of the $2 million hardship support grant for drought-affected farmers, asking about the allocation process and potential for additional funding. The Minister defends the allocation as part of a larger $8.6 million package and clarifies the grant program didn't close early, but funds were fully utilised.
AnsweredQoN 660Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
DRY SEASON TASKFORCE —
FARMERS — HARDSHIP SUPPORT GRANT
660. Hon COLIN de GRUSSA to the Minister for Agriculture and
Food:
I refer to the $2 million for
hardship support grants for farmers impacted by drought conditions, noting that
applications closed early due to funding exhaustion.
(1) Why was only $2 million
allocated for the grants?
(2) What method
was used to determine that $2 million would be sufficient for the number of
farmers affected by drought conditions?
(3) Will more
funding be allocated to continue the hardship support grant for farmers who
have not yet had an opportunity to apply?
FARMERS — HARDSHIP SUPPORT GRANT
660. Hon COLIN de GRUSSA to the Minister for Agriculture and
Food:
I refer to the $2 million for
hardship support grants for farmers impacted by drought conditions, noting that
applications closed early due to funding exhaustion.
(1) Why was only $2 million
allocated for the grants?
(2) What method
was used to determine that $2 million would be sufficient for the number of
farmers affected by drought conditions?
(3) Will more
funding be allocated to continue the hardship support grant for farmers who
have not yet had an opportunity to apply?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1)–(3) The
Cook government recognised the need for support to help address the concerns of
farmers across Western Australia experiencing challenging seasonal conditions
and established the 2024 Dry Season Taskforce. The Dry Season Taskforce helped
to inform the Cook government's significant $8.6 million funding package of support for drought-affected
farmers, which includes the hardship grants. There has been a positive
uptake of the $5 000 hardship grants, with funds reaching the first recipients
within eight days of the program opening. The funds swiftly helped our farmers
to purchase essentials such as stockfeed, water and fuel. To be clear, the
hardship grants did not close early, as per the guidelines, funds were
available until fully utilised.
some notice of the question.
(1)–(3) The
Cook government recognised the need for support to help address the concerns of
farmers across Western Australia experiencing challenging seasonal conditions
and established the 2024 Dry Season Taskforce. The Dry Season Taskforce helped
to inform the Cook government's significant $8.6 million funding package of support for drought-affected
farmers, which includes the hardship grants. There has been a positive
uptake of the $5 000 hardship grants, with funds reaching the first recipients
within eight days of the program opening. The funds swiftly helped our farmers
to purchase essentials such as stockfeed, water and fuel. To be clear, the
hardship grants did not close early, as per the guidelines, funds were
available until fully utilised.
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