Queensland drought: Farmers may have kids’ school fees paid for

NEW Prime Minister Scott Morrison has dramatically widened the scope of the national drought plan by hinting of cash to pay for the school fees for the kids of drought-plagued and cash-strapped farmers.

NEW Prime Minister Scott Morrison has dramatically widened the scope of the national drought plan by hinting of cash to pay for the school fees for the kids of drought-plagued and cash-strapped farmers.

Underscoring the philosophical differences between himself and former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, Mr Morrison has unapologetically declared the climate change wars vexing the Coalition for a decade would not derail his rescue mission, which would focus on timely practical solutions.

The day was marked by meetings with farmers, councillors and Year 1 pupils at Longreach School of Distance Education, with Mr Morrison sitting on the floor to play games on iPads with the pupils and talk to them about their drawings.

He told them they were special and “everyone around Australia cares a lot”.

“And know you’re doing it a bit tough.”

Snubbing the swearing-in of his new Cabinet for a day talking to hurting communities in Longreach and Quilpie, the new PM said bush kids should have the same educational opportunities as kids in cities.

He made the comments after working mother of five Annabel Tully became emotional when revealing she and husband Stephen faced taking three boys out of boarding school because times were so tough.

Mrs Tully said after so much belt-tightening, including often not eating or forgoing a beer on a Friday, she still wasn’t prepared to sacrifice her kids’ education.

Mr Morrison said it shouldn’t be that way.

“There’s a lot of hardship here. There’s a lot of struggle and they are incredibly resilient people,” Mr Morrison said. “But when you talk about your kids, it’s another story all together … getting kids to school cannot be causing stress to parents.”

He said national drought co-ordinator Major-General Stephen Day would give his advice on education through to red tape.

But he said he would not fight the climate change wars.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison meets with Year 1 students at the Longreach School of Distance Education in Longreach. Picture: Alex Ellinghausen

“Climate is changing. Everyone knows that,” Mr Morrison said.

“I don’t think it’s part of this debate. If people want to have a debate about that, they’re free. It’s not a debate I participated a lot in the past.

“I’m particularly interested in the policies to address what is going on here.”

Member for Maranoa David Littleproud said politics needed to be put aside to help farmers.

He said Mr Morrison had “taken time and taken drought on, taken it by the scruff of the neck as soon as he was awarded the leadership of the Liberal Party and then became Prime Minister”.

“This is about listening and looking and understanding,” he said.

“To have a Prime Minister who is prepared to come out, to kick the dust, to get an understanding of what these people’s stories are, of real Australian stories in the outback are.

“This drought, it’s been prolonged in many parts of my electorate in Queensland for close to eight years in some parts. So the resilience and strength that some people like Annabel and Stephen show are the true stories of Australia.

“But also, can I just make one plea – put the politics aside. Can I say to the Labor State Government, to Annastacia Palaszczuk, can you please rethink your vegetation management laws, particularly with respect to mulga.

“We are seeing farmers out here in the mulga lands that have lost over 35 per cent of their fodder because of the draconian laws around mulga’s and vegetation management.

“This is a land management that has been done sustainably by our farmers for generations. We should trust our farmers to continue to manage the mulga lands the way they have, but to also maintain their dignity.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison meets with sheep and cattle graziers Annabel and Stephen Tully and their daughter Eve. Picture: Alex Ellinghausen

AFTER YEARS OF NO RAIN, HOPE IS RUNNING OUT

STEPHEN and Annabel Tully have red dirt running through their veins, part of a farming dynasty now at risk of being overthrown by a cruel climate.

The Tully name is almost as old as Australia itself, five generations toiling on Burginderry Station to produce some of the best wool in the world.

But after years of little rain, the Tullys are struggling – and it’s almost ironic that their surname shares the name of one of the wettest parts of Australia.

They’ve cut back on food, even beer on a Friday, and now face having to make tough choices about three of their kids who attend a Brisbane boarding school.

Yesterday, new Prime Minister Scott Morrison kicked the red dirt under his feet, turning the national attention to farmers working long hours and numerous jobs to keep food on the table.

“Farming is a disease,” Mr Tully said with bush humour.

Farmers are often the best politicians and the worst diplomats.

They tell it how it is without the political correctness – they are far too busy for that.

Asked whether after seven years of drought he wondered why politicians were now here to listen, Mr Tully said that was a question that mattered little because he was glad they were here.

“I love my job, I just wish I was paid a bit more,” he said.

“My goal in life is actually having machinery younger than I am, and I’m failing miserably,” the 47-year-old grazier said. “When you go backwards, you only see backwards.”

But they refused to complain, saying they would not give up on a life they knew could be better.