- Nearly $60 million committed to supporting Queensland's primary producers and regional communities.
- Landmark collaboration between the Australian and Queensland Governments.
- Regional communities and producers to benefit from initiatives to prepare for and manage the impacts of future drought.
Queensland's regional communities and primary producers are set to benefit from nearly $60 million in funding over the next 4 years, thanks to a landmark collaboration between the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund and the Queensland Government.
This funding will support the delivery of two critical programs: the Regional Drought Resilience Planning (RDRP) Program and the Farm Business Resilience Program (FBRP).
More than $26 million has been jointly committed to Phase 2 of the RDRP Program over 4 years to support regions to deliver initiatives that build drought resilience for communities and industries.
This funding builds on the development of Regional Drought Resilience Plans across 14 Queensland regions, which proposed drought resilience projects ranging from cultivating drought-resistant crop species to combining scientific weather and land management with Traditional Owner cultural knowledge and practices.
Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Julie Collins said this funding would support communities across Queensland to build their long-term drought resilience.
"Drought is always a case of when, not if, which is why we're working with the Queensland Government, primary producers, businesses, industry and local governments to understand the risks, priorities and actions needed to enhance resilience to future drought," Minister Collins said.
"At our recent National Drought Forum, we heard about the importance of having locally led initiatives that are tailored to individual regions, and this funding will help kickstart the actions identified in Regional Drought Resilience Plans.
"Having recently spent time on the ground with Queensland farmers, I know that they're already leading the way when it comes to improving their climate resilience, and this funding is about giving them the tools to continue managing climate risk, including for future drought."
More than $33.6 million has also been jointly committed to Phase 2 of the FBRP over 4 years to provide tailored support and peer-to-peer learning to help primary producers plan for future business, drought and climate risks.
Queensland Minister for Primary Industries Tony Perrett said the program promoted economic, environmental and social resilience among farmers, land managers, graziers, and aquaculture operators.
"The Queensland Government is dedicated to supporting primary producers to strengthen their resilience and ensure the long-term sustainability of their operations," Minister Perrett said.
"We are working alongside industry partners, including Queensland Farmers' Federation, AgForce, CANEGROWERS, Queensland Fruit and Vegetable Growers and Natural Resource Management Groups to deliver this vital program.
"By making sure primary producers are better prepared when droughts inevitably strike will mean they can return to profitability and prosperity more quickly when the drought breaks.
"We are pleased to work alongside the Australian Government to provide this funding for our primary producers to be better equipped and resourced to manage the tough conditions we know all too well in Queensland."
The program aims to help producers to boost productivity and profitability, improve decision-making and risk management and create tailored farm business resilience plans for their businesses.
Since its inception in 2021, the Queensland FBRP has supported the development or updating of more than 1,600 farm business plans and engaged more than 35,000 participants through more than 8,500 targeted events, field days, workshops and individual support sessions.
