Labor’s candidate for Farrer Kieran Drabsch has bemoaned last week’s National Drought Summit and the federal government’s decision to re-purpose a $3.9 billion infrastructure fund for the Coalition’s Future Drought Fund rather than the NDIS, to which the money had previously been promised.
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In 2018 the Future Drought Fund has received a total of $5 billion in funding.
“By stealing funds from the NDIS to prop up this $5 billion re-election smokescreen, the government has chosen to divide our rural communities...by pitching hard working farmers in need, against those with disabilities,” Mr Drabsch said.
Following last week’s announcements Carrathool and Narrandera councils have been added to the government’s Drought Communities Program making them eligible to apply for up to $1 million in grants to use on projects that stimulate their shires local economies and job creation until June 30.
Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network will also benefit from the Future Drought Fund receiving $1 million to expand its’ mental health services and re-launch the network’s tele-health program Accessline.
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Farrer MP Sussan Ley said “overall I think the PM’s Summit and the measures announced really do recognise the importance of agricultural Australia to the national economy and that drought has always played a part.”
“I do have an argument with how the Bureau of Meteorology makes its assessment (of drought).. and I took this up with the BOM at the Summit to contest that process...for me, the inflexible criteria and data analysis being applied to the program is completely out-of-whack with what is actually happening on the ground,” Mrs Ley said.
Mr Drabsch criticised his rival saying “Sussan Ley’s hypocrisy in attacking the Bureau of Meteorology for their drought modelling is a disgrace since her government is de-funding and de-skilling this important national institution.”
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