- $2 million in hardship grants and $4 million in interest-free loans for farmers impacted by drought
- $1.5 million investment in community water infrastructure
- $875,000 to support mental health and community wellbeing programs
- $225,000 in donations for rural assistance charities
Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis has today announced an $8.6 million package of support for agricultural industries and rural communities impacted by the current drought conditions.
The package includes $2 million in hardship grants for farmers. Primary producers facing financial hardship will be able to apply for up to $5,000 per business to help cover the costs of stockfeed, water and transportation.
A further $4 million will be provided in the form of interest-free loans. Primary producers will be able to apply for up to $25,000 per business to cover the costs of stockfeed, water and transportation.
The funds can also be used to establish feed silos, water tanks and improved irrigation systems or any other infrastructure that supports drought resilience. The loan is repayable over five years with no repayments for the first two years.
The State Government will also provide $1.5 million to extend the Community Water Supplies Partnership Program to more regional communities, with grants to establish or improve their non-potable water supplies.
Up to $100,000 can be provided for each off-farm community water supply project, developed by local government or community groups on a co-contribution basis. Water security can be boosted through new water tanks and infrastructure for emergency farm and firefighting community water supplies, as well as public amenity projects in regional towns.
Applications will open in May.
A further $875,000 will be provided to support mental health and community wellbeing programs, with $250,000 for the Blue Tree Project, $250,000 for the Grower Group Alliance, $175,000 to Regional Men's Health as well as $200,000 for Rural West to extend its farm financial counselling services to small businesses in drought impacted towns.
In addition, a donation of $150,000 will be made to Farmers Without Borders and $75,000 will be provided to Rural Aid, to assist the charities with their vital work supporting farmers across WA who've been affected by drought.
Today's funding package is informed by the work of the Dry Season Taskforce, which is made up of agricultural industry leaders and aims to identify ways Government can provide drought relief.
The Taskforce also identified that WA sheep producers have excess stock in the system and extending this year's live export trade period would allow a significant number to be exported.
Minister Jarvis has now written to her Federal counterpart Murray Watt seeking an extension of ten daysfrom June 14 until June 24, subject to favourable weather conditions in the Northern Hemisphere and all usual animal welfare considerations.
Comments attributed to Premier Roger Cook:
"My Government will always do what's right by farming communities across WA.
"We've expedited this package of support to provide assistance for those doing it tough in the current dry conditions.
"I'd like to thank the Dry Season Taskforce for their work to develop this program."
As stated by Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis:
"We know the current dry conditions mean rural communities across the State are struggling.
"We want to assure the community that our Government is listening to farmers and closely monitoring this situation.
"This significant $8.6 million support package for our primary producers will provide relief to those facing financial hardship and ensure that mental health and community wellbeing services are easily accessible across the regions."
As stated by Regional Development Minister Don Punch:
"I hope today's funding announcement goes some way to giving farmers and regional communities some relief, as they face unseasonably low rainfall across the South West land division.
"It will take a whole-of-community effort to address these challenging seasonal conditions - including local, State and Federal Governments - and it's encouraging to see communities are already banding together to support those in need.
"This financial assistance to support immediate recovery efforts complements the State Government's investment - totallingmore than $19 million- inlong-term water security and climate resilience initiatives thathelp communities across regional WA prepare for and manage the impacts of more frequent dry seasons."
