Liberal’s Drought emergency declaration bill passes upper house

A ray of hope has emerged for struggling farmers desperate for the drought to be declared an emergency – but party politics look set to throw a spanner in the works.

Liberal primary industries spokeswoman Nicola Centofanti will push for bipartisan support of a bill to official declare the drought an emergency. Picture: supplied

South Australia’s devastating drought would officially be declared an emergency and a response co-ordinator appointed under plans one step closer to fruition after a crucial vote in parliament this week.

Opposition-led legislation which would give the state government power to declare a drought emergency was passed with the support of the cross bench in the upper house.

The bill will now head to the House of Assembly, where Liberal primary industries spokeswoman Nicola Centofanti will push for bipartisan support.

“I’ve written directly to both the Premier and the Minister for Primary Industries, inviting them to take a multi-partisan approach to this bill,” Ms Centofanti said.

“My door is open and let’s work in collaboration to deliver for our farming communities.”

She said the ability to declare the drought an emergency would provide a trigger for banks and the tax office to activate drought-specific hardship provisions.

A Grain Producers SA survey released this week revealed some financial institutions had refused farmers credit because there was no official declaration of drought.

The implementation of the National Drought Agreement in 2019 marked the end of Australian governments declaring droughts in favour of implementing long-term management.

But Ms Centofanti said declaring the drought an emergency would ensure a structured response to farmers’ crisis to help them receive immediate help.

“This bill ensures drought isn’t treated as a seasonal inconvenience,” she said. “It’s a serious emergency that needs serious, structured intervention. We owe it to our farmers and

rural families to provide clarity, co-ordination, and confidence that the government will

act, not just empathise.

Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven. Picture Mark Brake

“This is about delivering the practical tools that communities on the ground are

asking for.”

But Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven said the proposal was rushed and created extra red tape for farmers trying to access the government’s $73m drought support package.

“The bill directly contravenes the National Drought Agreement by bringing back drought declarations and reintroducing lines on a map, which is outdated drought policy that has been rejected nationally now for more than a decade, following consecutive reviews,” Ms Scriven said.

Ms Scriven said opposition calls to appoint a drought response co-ordinator were made redundant when the government announced earlier this week the appointment of Alex Zimmermann as the state’s commissioner for drought support.

Mr Zimmermann is a former SA Police chief inspector who was also state community recovery co-ordinator for the River Murray Floods of 2022-23.

Various regional councils from across the state have backed farmers’ calls to officially declare the state in drought.

Mount Remarkable Mayor Stephen McCarthy said farmers in his council area were mentally and financially exhausted and he welcomed any legislation that reduced the “ad hoc” nature of drought assistance.

Grant District Council and the Naracoorte Lucindale Council in the South East are among other councils pushing for a formal declaration.