❓ Mr O'Donnell asks the Premier about drought support for pastoralists in the southern rangelands. The Premier outlines existing support and explains why a formal drought declaration isn't necessary to access Commonwealth funding.
AnsweredQoN 965Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DROUGHT —
SOUTHERN RANGELANDS
965. Mr K.M. O'DONNELL to the Premier:
Pastoralists are doing it tough in
the southern rangelands, including the goldfields, with a lack of rainfall over
the last few years, dams drying up and having to truck-in feed.
The SPEAKER : Just the
question, please.
Mr K.M. O'DONNELL :
Has the Premier written to the commonwealth government requesting that it
declare a drought in the region; and, if not, why not?
SOUTHERN RANGELANDS
965. Mr K.M. O'DONNELL to the Premier:
Pastoralists are doing it tough in
the southern rangelands, including the goldfields, with a lack of rainfall over
the last few years, dams drying up and having to truck-in feed.
The SPEAKER : Just the
question, please.
Mr K.M. O'DONNELL :
Has the Premier written to the commonwealth government requesting that it
declare a drought in the region; and, if not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Kalgoorlie
for the question. It is a very serious issue for those families and communities
that are confronted by drought. As we know, across Australia, particularly in
some parts of the eastern states, the situation is replicated and is very
serious indeed. The southern rangelands have been experiencing a dry period for some time, and the reality is that the
condition of the land has been deteriorating for some decades due to a range of reasons. We are finalising a list of
priority drought initiatives to submit for federal funding from the Prime
Minister's drought package so
that Western Australia gets its fair share. I attended the drought summit in
Canberra in December last year. We indicated at that point that we
wanted to be part of any initiatives, and that they should not all be eastern
states based. We will be submitting our drought initiatives shortly.
Minister MacTiernan and Minister
Kelly raised these issues with the federal ministers at a forum last week.
There is a range of research and development projects to improve the feed base
and pasture growth, and to regenerate the
degraded and dehydrated rangelands. As a state, we have a dry season response
program underway and we are working closely with pastoralists to support
seasonal management and decisions. Department of agriculture officers have
visited more than 100 properties across the state since July to ensure that
advice is provided on what assistance is available, both nationally and at a state
level. The government is carting emergency water to the Shires of Lake Grace,
Kent, and Ravensthorpe to support livestock producers in their animal welfare
needs. We have spent more than $1.1 million at 18 sites to refurbish and
develop new water supplies, and improve dams, catchments and storage of
strategic emergency livestock water supplies in affected areas.
The advice I have is that a drought
declaration is not required in order to access ongoing assistance measures and
there has not been a drought declaration since 1989. We can get assistance from
the commonwealth without a drought declaration. I understand that other states
do not declare drought, either. Assistance is sought via existing programs and,
indeed, the new program that the commonwealth government is putting in place.
There is a range of other initiatives and support services available for
pastoralists and farmers, which I will not read out, provided both by the state
and the commonwealth. I urge anyone affected by drought, in particular the pastoralists
in the southern rangelands, to go to the Department of Primary Industries and
Regional Development website if they are not aware of the assistance measures—there
are a range of others—so they can access those assistance measures and
find out what they are.
Point of Order
Mr Z.R.F.
KIRKUP : The Premier appeared to be reading from an official
document. I ask that it be tabled.
The SPEAKER : Is it an
official document, Premier?
Mr M. McGowan : They are
prepared for Parliament, Mr Speaker.
The SPEAKER : Can I have a look?
Mr M. McGowan : They are not
official documents.
The SPEAKER : They are only
speaking notes.
for the question. It is a very serious issue for those families and communities
that are confronted by drought. As we know, across Australia, particularly in
some parts of the eastern states, the situation is replicated and is very
serious indeed. The southern rangelands have been experiencing a dry period for some time, and the reality is that the
condition of the land has been deteriorating for some decades due to a range of reasons. We are finalising a list of
priority drought initiatives to submit for federal funding from the Prime
Minister's drought package so
that Western Australia gets its fair share. I attended the drought summit in
Canberra in December last year. We indicated at that point that we
wanted to be part of any initiatives, and that they should not all be eastern
states based. We will be submitting our drought initiatives shortly.
Minister MacTiernan and Minister
Kelly raised these issues with the federal ministers at a forum last week.
There is a range of research and development projects to improve the feed base
and pasture growth, and to regenerate the
degraded and dehydrated rangelands. As a state, we have a dry season response
program underway and we are working closely with pastoralists to support
seasonal management and decisions. Department of agriculture officers have
visited more than 100 properties across the state since July to ensure that
advice is provided on what assistance is available, both nationally and at a state
level. The government is carting emergency water to the Shires of Lake Grace,
Kent, and Ravensthorpe to support livestock producers in their animal welfare
needs. We have spent more than $1.1 million at 18 sites to refurbish and
develop new water supplies, and improve dams, catchments and storage of
strategic emergency livestock water supplies in affected areas.
The advice I have is that a drought
declaration is not required in order to access ongoing assistance measures and
there has not been a drought declaration since 1989. We can get assistance from
the commonwealth without a drought declaration. I understand that other states
do not declare drought, either. Assistance is sought via existing programs and,
indeed, the new program that the commonwealth government is putting in place.
There is a range of other initiatives and support services available for
pastoralists and farmers, which I will not read out, provided both by the state
and the commonwealth. I urge anyone affected by drought, in particular the pastoralists
in the southern rangelands, to go to the Department of Primary Industries and
Regional Development website if they are not aware of the assistance measures—there
are a range of others—so they can access those assistance measures and
find out what they are.
Point of Order
Mr Z.R.F.
KIRKUP : The Premier appeared to be reading from an official
document. I ask that it be tabled.
The SPEAKER : Is it an
official document, Premier?
Mr M. McGowan : They are
prepared for Parliament, Mr Speaker.
The SPEAKER : Can I have a look?
Mr M. McGowan : They are not
official documents.
The SPEAKER : They are only
speaking notes.
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