Donaldson asks Chance about federal budget impacts on drought assistance. Chance responds that initial indications suggest continued funding, but requires further review and promises to provide more detail later.

AnsweredQoN 461Legislative Council
Asked
14 May 2008
Portfolio
Agriculture and Food

QuestionView source ↗

FEDERAL BUDGET — FARMING INDUSTRY DROUGHT ASSISTANCE FUNDING
With the federal budget now delivered and a reported article prior to budget day stating that funding assistance to the farming industry during severe drought conditions would be scrapped, I ask — (1) Is the minister aware that this has or will occur? (2) What negotiation between the state minister and the federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Hon Tony Burke, have taken place or will take place on this issue now that the budget has been brought down? Hon KIM CHANCE

AnswerView source ↗

I thank Hon Bruce Donaldson for the question, and although I missed the first few words, I think I picked up the gist of the question. (1)-(2) It seems to me that the answer is no, on the contrary, from what I have read of the federal budget today. To be fair, not much has been printed in the mass media, and I think what I read about the federal budget was in The West Australian today. I hasten to add that it may not have been in that newspaper; it may have been in a briefing note I received from the Department of Agriculture and Food. In fact on reflection it was. What I read in that briefing note indicated to me—and I need to read it much more carefully—that the budget provided for full roll-on facilities of the exceptional circumstances provisions. I will look at that further and as we get to understand the detail of the federal budget more, we will be more clear. However, certainly the indication to me was that not only would there be full roll-on of the current EC provisions, but also there was a sum—if I remember the figure correctly it was $512 million—for other claims that might occur in the near future. I will get back to the honourable member with more detail about that, but it certainly seems to me as though the answer to the question is no, I do not believe the budget has terminated the drought funding arrangements at the commonwealth level.
(1) Is the minister aware that this has or will occur? (2) What negotiation between the state minister and the federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Hon Tony Burke, have taken place or will take place on this issue now that the budget has been brought down? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Bruce Donaldson for the question, and although I missed the first few words, I think I picked up the gist of the question. (1)-(2) It seems to me that the answer is no, on the contrary, from what I have read of the federal budget today. To be fair, not much has been printed in the mass media, and I think what I read about the federal budget was in The West Australian today. I hasten to add that it may not have been in that newspaper; it may have been in a briefing note I received from the Department of Agriculture and Food. In fact on reflection it was. What I read in that briefing note indicated to me—and I need to read it much more carefully—that the budget provided for full roll-on facilities of the exceptional circumstances provisions. I will look at that further and as we get to understand the detail of the federal budget more, we will be more clear. However, certainly the indication to me was that not only would there be full roll-on of the current EC provisions, but also there was a sum—if I remember the figure correctly it was $512 million—for other claims that might occur in the near future. I will get back to the honourable member with more detail about that, but it certainly seems to me as though the answer to the question is no, I do not believe the budget has terminated the drought funding arrangements at the commonwealth level.
(2) What negotiation between the state minister and the federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Hon Tony Burke, have taken place or will take place on this issue now that the budget has been brought down? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Bruce Donaldson for the question, and although I missed the first few words, I think I picked up the gist of the question. (1)-(2) It seems to me that the answer is no, on the contrary, from what I have read of the federal budget today. To be fair, not much has been printed in the mass media, and I think what I read about the federal budget was in The West Australian today. I hasten to add that it may not have been in that newspaper; it may have been in a briefing note I received from the Department of Agriculture and Food. In fact on reflection it was. What I read in that briefing note indicated to me—and I need to read it much more carefully—that the budget provided for full roll-on facilities of the exceptional circumstances provisions. I will look at that further and as we get to understand the detail of the federal budget more, we will be more clear. However, certainly the indication to me was that not only would there be full roll-on of the current EC provisions, but also there was a sum—if I remember the figure correctly it was $512 million—for other claims that might occur in the near future. I will get back to the honourable member with more detail about that, but it certainly seems to me as though the answer to the question is no, I do not believe the budget has terminated the drought funding arrangements at the commonwealth level.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Bruce Donaldson for the question, and although I missed the first few words, I think I picked up the gist of the question. (1)-(2) It seems to me that the answer is no, on the contrary, from what I have read of the federal budget today. To be fair, not much has been printed in the mass media, and I think what I read about the federal budget was in The West Australian today. I hasten to add that it may not have been in that newspaper; it may have been in a briefing note I received from the Department of Agriculture and Food. In fact on reflection it was. What I read in that briefing note indicated to me—and I need to read it much more carefully—that the budget provided for full roll-on facilities of the exceptional circumstances provisions. I will look at that further and as we get to understand the detail of the federal budget more, we will be more clear. However, certainly the indication to me was that not only would there be full roll-on of the current EC provisions, but also there was a sum—if I remember the figure correctly it was $512 million—for other claims that might occur in the near future. I will get back to the honourable member with more detail about that, but it certainly seems to me as though the answer to the question is no, I do not believe the budget has terminated the drought funding arrangements at the commonwealth level.
I thank Hon Bruce Donaldson for the question, and although I missed the first few words, I think I picked up the gist of the question. (1)-(2) It seems to me that the answer is no, on the contrary, from what I have read of the federal budget today. To be fair, not much has been printed in the mass media, and I think what I read about the federal budget was in The West Australian today. I hasten to add that it may not have been in that newspaper; it may have been in a briefing note I received from the Department of Agriculture and Food. In fact on reflection it was. What I read in that briefing note indicated to me—and I need to read it much more carefully—that the budget provided for full roll-on facilities of the exceptional circumstances provisions. I will look at that further and as we get to understand the detail of the federal budget more, we will be more clear. However, certainly the indication to me was that not only would there be full roll-on of the current EC provisions, but also there was a sum—if I remember the figure correctly it was $512 million—for other claims that might occur in the near future. I will get back to the honourable member with more detail about that, but it certainly seems to me as though the answer to the question is no, I do not believe the budget has terminated the drought funding arrangements at the commonwealth level.
(1)-(2) It seems to me that the answer is no, on the contrary, from what I have read of the federal budget today. To be fair, not much has been printed in the mass media, and I think what I read about the federal budget was in The West Australian today. I hasten to add that it may not have been in that newspaper; it may have been in a briefing note I received from the Department of Agriculture and Food. In fact on reflection it was. What I read in that briefing note indicated to me—and I need to read it much more carefully—that the budget provided for full roll-on facilities of the exceptional circumstances provisions. I will look at that further and as we get to understand the detail of the federal budget more, we will be more clear. However, certainly the indication to me was that not only would there be full roll-on of the current EC provisions, but also there was a sum—if I remember the figure correctly it was $512 million—for other claims that might occur in the near future. I will get back to the honourable member with more detail about that, but it certainly seems to me as though the answer to the question is no, I do not believe the budget has terminated the drought funding arrangements at the commonwealth level.

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