The Queensland Parliament has today passed a motion calling on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to support Queensland drought affected farmers and communities by immediately letting the $5 billion Future Drought Fund flow.
At the moment, the Prime Minister is not planning to allow the $5 billion Future Drought Fund to commence until the middle of next year, some nine months away.
The Premier said it was important that the Queensland Parliament was able to send a strong message to Canberra with the adoption of this motion.
"66 per cent of Queensland is in drought right now and we need the Morrison Government to let the funds flow to those Queenslanders in need," the Premier said.
"It's time the Morrison Government let these funds flow."
The Leader of the Opposition told the Parliament that the motion was "an absolute joke".
The Premier said the current State Budget allocated an extra $74.6 million to help deal with the drought's worsening conditions.
Including broader assistance measures, the Queensland Government has allocated $740 million for drought assistance since 2013.
"Nine months is too long for Queensland farmers to wait for this Federal assistance," the Premier said.
"I wrote to the Prime Minister on August 21 asking for the funding to be released.
"But the funding hasn't been accelerated and the Federal Government has instead been kicking farmers off the Farm Household Allowance while they are still in drought.
"Drought affected Queensland deserves better from Canberra and I hope the Prime Minister heeds the call of the motion passed today in the Queensland Parliament."
