❓ Question regarding proposed changes to the state's drought package, specifically the $8,000 cash payment to farmers, and the Minister's response outlining a plan for broader consultation and a shift towards long-term strategies.
AnsweredQoN 895Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
DROUGHT - CASH PAYMENTS TO FARMERS
In last Friday’s The Geraldton Guardian the minister was quoted as saying that he wanted to cut the $8 000 drought cash payment to farmers and pool the money for industry; that he would have the state government money worth $7.5 million this year spent on strategies to guarantee farmers long-term futures; that he backed the Australian Agricultural Contracts Ltd grain company production proposition based on the outcomes suggested by AACL; and that he wanted to propose changes to how the state’s drought package is brought out, but he wanted them to be supported. What changes is the minister proposing; and, if it is premature to discuss them now, when can we expect these changes to be announced and what consultation will take place? Hon KIM CHANCE
In last Friday’s The Geraldton Guardian the minister was quoted as saying that he wanted to cut the $8 000 drought cash payment to farmers and pool the money for industry; that he would have the state government money worth $7.5 million this year spent on strategies to guarantee farmers long-term futures; that he backed the Australian Agricultural Contracts Ltd grain company production proposition based on the outcomes suggested by AACL; and that he wanted to propose changes to how the state’s drought package is brought out, but he wanted them to be supported. What changes is the minister proposing; and, if it is premature to discuss them now, when can we expect these changes to be announced and what consultation will take place? Hon KIM CHANCE
AnswerView source ↗
I am happy to discuss them now, and that is precisely why I was able to speak to the reporter from The Geraldton Guardian in those terms, which was effectively a recital of what I had said to the representatives of the 10 shire councils from the north eastern wheatbelt with whom I had just met. It is very important to understand that what I want to do here is to try to bring everyone along with me. I am not proposing that the government simply change direction and then go out and sell the idea. I am proposing to talk to a range of people - local government, farmer representatives, bankers and businesses - about the direction they think we need to take as a state specifically to find some way to assist farmers deal with both drought and the potential for climate change. I will not go through those issues now, as I think the member understands that it is a matter for us to discuss outside the chamber. I had this discussion also with the federal minister, as it is only fair that the federal minister knows what the state has on its mind. I indicated to Hon Peter McGauran that the commonwealth is now heading for something like $3 billion worth of expenditure on drought nationwide over the past five years. Although we all can be happy about the fact that that $3 billion has undoubtedly helped keep affected communities together, I am afraid that when we ask ourselves the next question - but what has it done in the long term? - we get a fairly negative answer. I believe the commonwealth does not have much choice in this matter, notwithstanding the drought round table in Canberra that I attended with farm leaders three years ago that strongly recommended a change to long-term preparation rather than assistance. I believe the role of the commonwealth will always be that of the call of last resort, and I cannot see how the commonwealth can get out of that. However, I believe the state has options. I truly believe that the $8 000 cash component of the state drought package is probably not all that relevant. It might have been a little helpful; it might have helped to pay the rates; but I think we can spend the money better. However, I want to discuss that with opposition members and with a range of people around what we can do to form a more effective process in the longer term; and I believe we do have some exciting options to look at. The PRESIDENT : Hon Nigel Hallett. Hon MURRAY CRIDDLE : I thought the President looked at me! The PRESIDENT : I can discern the difference in appearance between Hon Murray Criddle and Hon Nigel Hallett! Hon NIGEL HALLETT : Thank you, Mr President.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I am happy to discuss them now, and that is precisely why I was able to speak to the reporter from The Geraldton Guardian in those terms, which was effectively a recital of what I had said to the representatives of the 10 shire councils from the north eastern wheatbelt with whom I had just met. It is very important to understand that what I want to do here is to try to bring everyone along with me. I am not proposing that the government simply change direction and then go out and sell the idea. I am proposing to talk to a range of people - local government, farmer representatives, bankers and businesses - about the direction they think we need to take as a state specifically to find some way to assist farmers deal with both drought and the potential for climate change. I will not go through those issues now, as I think the member understands that it is a matter for us to discuss outside the chamber. I had this discussion also with the federal minister, as it is only fair that the federal minister knows what the state has on its mind. I indicated to Hon Peter McGauran that the commonwealth is now heading for something like $3 billion worth of expenditure on drought nationwide over the past five years. Although we all can be happy about the fact that that $3 billion has undoubtedly helped keep affected communities together, I am afraid that when we ask ourselves the next question - but what has it done in the long term? - we get a fairly negative answer. I believe the commonwealth does not have much choice in this matter, notwithstanding the drought round table in Canberra that I attended with farm leaders three years ago that strongly recommended a change to long-term preparation rather than assistance. I believe the role of the commonwealth will always be that of the call of last resort, and I cannot see how the commonwealth can get out of that. However, I believe the state has options. I truly believe that the $8 000 cash component of the state drought package is probably not all that relevant. It might have been a little helpful; it might have helped to pay the rates; but I think we can spend the money better. However, I want to discuss that with opposition members and with a range of people around what we can do to form a more effective process in the longer term; and I believe we do have some exciting options to look at. The PRESIDENT : Hon Nigel Hallett. Hon MURRAY CRIDDLE : I thought the President looked at me! The PRESIDENT : I can discern the difference in appearance between Hon Murray Criddle and Hon Nigel Hallett! Hon NIGEL HALLETT : Thank you, Mr President.
I am happy to discuss them now, and that is precisely why I was able to speak to the reporter from The Geraldton Guardian in those terms, which was effectively a recital of what I had said to the representatives of the 10 shire councils from the north eastern wheatbelt with whom I had just met. It is very important to understand that what I want to do here is to try to bring everyone along with me. I am not proposing that the government simply change direction and then go out and sell the idea. I am proposing to talk to a range of people - local government, farmer representatives, bankers and businesses - about the direction they think we need to take as a state specifically to find some way to assist farmers deal with both drought and the potential for climate change. I will not go through those issues now, as I think the member understands that it is a matter for us to discuss outside the chamber. I had this discussion also with the federal minister, as it is only fair that the federal minister knows what the state has on its mind. I indicated to Hon Peter McGauran that the commonwealth is now heading for something like $3 billion worth of expenditure on drought nationwide over the past five years. Although we all can be happy about the fact that that $3 billion has undoubtedly helped keep affected communities together, I am afraid that when we ask ourselves the next question - but what has it done in the long term? - we get a fairly negative answer. I believe the commonwealth does not have much choice in this matter, notwithstanding the drought round table in Canberra that I attended with farm leaders three years ago that strongly recommended a change to long-term preparation rather than assistance. I believe the role of the commonwealth will always be that of the call of last resort, and I cannot see how the commonwealth can get out of that. However, I believe the state has options. I truly believe that the $8 000 cash component of the state drought package is probably not all that relevant. It might have been a little helpful; it might have helped to pay the rates; but I think we can spend the money better. However, I want to discuss that with opposition members and with a range of people around what we can do to form a more effective process in the longer term; and I believe we do have some exciting options to look at. The PRESIDENT : Hon Nigel Hallett. Hon MURRAY CRIDDLE : I thought the President looked at me! The PRESIDENT : I can discern the difference in appearance between Hon Murray Criddle and Hon Nigel Hallett! Hon NIGEL HALLETT : Thank you, Mr President.
The PRESIDENT : Hon Nigel Hallett. Hon MURRAY CRIDDLE : I thought the President looked at me! The PRESIDENT : I can discern the difference in appearance between Hon Murray Criddle and Hon Nigel Hallett! Hon NIGEL HALLETT : Thank you, Mr President.
Hon MURRAY CRIDDLE : I thought the President looked at me! The PRESIDENT : I can discern the difference in appearance between Hon Murray Criddle and Hon Nigel Hallett! Hon NIGEL HALLETT : Thank you, Mr President.
The PRESIDENT : I can discern the difference in appearance between Hon Murray Criddle and Hon Nigel Hallett! Hon NIGEL HALLETT : Thank you, Mr President.
Hon NIGEL HALLETT : Thank you, Mr President.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I am happy to discuss them now, and that is precisely why I was able to speak to the reporter from The Geraldton Guardian in those terms, which was effectively a recital of what I had said to the representatives of the 10 shire councils from the north eastern wheatbelt with whom I had just met. It is very important to understand that what I want to do here is to try to bring everyone along with me. I am not proposing that the government simply change direction and then go out and sell the idea. I am proposing to talk to a range of people - local government, farmer representatives, bankers and businesses - about the direction they think we need to take as a state specifically to find some way to assist farmers deal with both drought and the potential for climate change. I will not go through those issues now, as I think the member understands that it is a matter for us to discuss outside the chamber. I had this discussion also with the federal minister, as it is only fair that the federal minister knows what the state has on its mind. I indicated to Hon Peter McGauran that the commonwealth is now heading for something like $3 billion worth of expenditure on drought nationwide over the past five years. Although we all can be happy about the fact that that $3 billion has undoubtedly helped keep affected communities together, I am afraid that when we ask ourselves the next question - but what has it done in the long term? - we get a fairly negative answer. I believe the commonwealth does not have much choice in this matter, notwithstanding the drought round table in Canberra that I attended with farm leaders three years ago that strongly recommended a change to long-term preparation rather than assistance. I believe the role of the commonwealth will always be that of the call of last resort, and I cannot see how the commonwealth can get out of that. However, I believe the state has options. I truly believe that the $8 000 cash component of the state drought package is probably not all that relevant. It might have been a little helpful; it might have helped to pay the rates; but I think we can spend the money better. However, I want to discuss that with opposition members and with a range of people around what we can do to form a more effective process in the longer term; and I believe we do have some exciting options to look at. The PRESIDENT : Hon Nigel Hallett. Hon MURRAY CRIDDLE : I thought the President looked at me! The PRESIDENT : I can discern the difference in appearance between Hon Murray Criddle and Hon Nigel Hallett! Hon NIGEL HALLETT : Thank you, Mr President.
I am happy to discuss them now, and that is precisely why I was able to speak to the reporter from The Geraldton Guardian in those terms, which was effectively a recital of what I had said to the representatives of the 10 shire councils from the north eastern wheatbelt with whom I had just met. It is very important to understand that what I want to do here is to try to bring everyone along with me. I am not proposing that the government simply change direction and then go out and sell the idea. I am proposing to talk to a range of people - local government, farmer representatives, bankers and businesses - about the direction they think we need to take as a state specifically to find some way to assist farmers deal with both drought and the potential for climate change. I will not go through those issues now, as I think the member understands that it is a matter for us to discuss outside the chamber. I had this discussion also with the federal minister, as it is only fair that the federal minister knows what the state has on its mind. I indicated to Hon Peter McGauran that the commonwealth is now heading for something like $3 billion worth of expenditure on drought nationwide over the past five years. Although we all can be happy about the fact that that $3 billion has undoubtedly helped keep affected communities together, I am afraid that when we ask ourselves the next question - but what has it done in the long term? - we get a fairly negative answer. I believe the commonwealth does not have much choice in this matter, notwithstanding the drought round table in Canberra that I attended with farm leaders three years ago that strongly recommended a change to long-term preparation rather than assistance. I believe the role of the commonwealth will always be that of the call of last resort, and I cannot see how the commonwealth can get out of that. However, I believe the state has options. I truly believe that the $8 000 cash component of the state drought package is probably not all that relevant. It might have been a little helpful; it might have helped to pay the rates; but I think we can spend the money better. However, I want to discuss that with opposition members and with a range of people around what we can do to form a more effective process in the longer term; and I believe we do have some exciting options to look at. The PRESIDENT : Hon Nigel Hallett. Hon MURRAY CRIDDLE : I thought the President looked at me! The PRESIDENT : I can discern the difference in appearance between Hon Murray Criddle and Hon Nigel Hallett! Hon NIGEL HALLETT : Thank you, Mr President.
The PRESIDENT : Hon Nigel Hallett. Hon MURRAY CRIDDLE : I thought the President looked at me! The PRESIDENT : I can discern the difference in appearance between Hon Murray Criddle and Hon Nigel Hallett! Hon NIGEL HALLETT : Thank you, Mr President.
Hon MURRAY CRIDDLE : I thought the President looked at me! The PRESIDENT : I can discern the difference in appearance between Hon Murray Criddle and Hon Nigel Hallett! Hon NIGEL HALLETT : Thank you, Mr President.
The PRESIDENT : I can discern the difference in appearance between Hon Murray Criddle and Hon Nigel Hallett! Hon NIGEL HALLETT : Thank you, Mr President.
Hon NIGEL HALLETT : Thank you, Mr President.
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