Renee Viellaris: What Morrison must do about the drought

The drought is a matter of life and death for many, but it is also an intractable political problem for the Prime Minister. Even so, he still has to find a way to solve it, writes Renee Viellaris.

Scott Morrison has an intractable problem — he needs voters in the suburbs to be assured, almost more so than rural farmers themselves, that he has a plan to help those struggling with drought.

It is arguable that there has never been a time before where those in the city have cared more about farmers and their stock, and are willing to help those on the land.

Listen to talkback radio and for the past few months there has been a common theme: “What is the Government doing for the farmers”? And “Why are we spending that money on a space program when the Government could be giving that money to farmers”?

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(Note to State Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington — having credible drought policy is one of your best political opportunities to help win city seats needed ahead of next year’s election).

In one sense it makes Morrison’s job easier when it comes to getting the cheque book out because voters are demanding it. With most voters living in city and suburban seats, he needs to keep them assured he is looking after those who help feed and clothe the nation.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources David Littleproud saw first-hand the effects of the drought in Quilpie in South West Queensland back in August. The situation has become even more dire since then. Picture: Alex Ellinghausen

Ironically, this is the time for the National Party to shine but unfortunately for them, their leadership team is unable to get any traction — and they appeared to have willingly surrendered a core Nationals’ issue to the Liberals. In years to come they will look back and shake their heads at their own self-inflicted stupidity.

This is in part because of Morrison himself, who clearly had no problem undercutting the Nationals by announcing on a radio station changes to the Farm Household Allowance.

Since he became prime minister, he has told Australians he will make drought one of his priorities and has taken the lead on dams and helping farmers restock after floods washed away hundreds of thousands of stock in Queensland.

Time will tell whether owning an issue like drought, which can only be fixed by an act of God, is a wise move given he cannot make it rain (think Malcolm Turnbull declaring he would bring power prices down only to be undone by his signature national energy guarantee).

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While it’s almost impossible for Morrison to be removed from leadership by the party room, the electorate can do it very quickly in two and a half years if the current niggle that the Government is not doing enough on drought or the economy turns into throbbing political pain.

An empty dam in Queensland. While nobody can make it rain, the government has other ways to help farmers. Picture: Max Fleet

There are four things Morrison has at the back of his mind when it comes to this issue.

1. The spending package he will announce in the next 10 days or so must be large enough to address some of the issues affecting farmers and drought-declared communities, but just as importantly, it must be seen to be enough by the electorate.

2. Politically, the financial injection needs to start before he heads off again overseas. In November, Morrison heads to APEC. There’s a growing realisation by the public that this PM — through no fault of his own — has spent a lot of time overseas at a time when there are some serious domestic issues to address.

3. Obviously a Budget surplus is one of the Government’s looming achievements, and the PM, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Finance Minister Mathias Cormann have toiled away to ensure it is realised. However, Morrison cannot look too frugal with his drought rescue package because he will be accused of not doing enough for farmers because of the want for the first surplus in more than a decade.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese speaking at The Daily Telegraph Bush Summit in Dubbo back in July. His recent suggestion of a ‘drought cabinet’ to tackle the problem was rejected by the Prime Minister. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

4. He needs to manage the sell of what is already on offer. So many farmers and ordinary voters do not know what the Government already has on the table. He also must temper his language on what he plans to do. Morrison announced two changes recently to the Farm Household Allowance but the core changes — like making the scheme more generous by allowing farmers to tap into the welfare for four years over a 10-year period — still needs to be legislated.

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Some voters think that’s already on offer and the feedback from some regional communities in Queensland is they feel misled by the PM because they too thought it could be accessed today.

Also, there’s a real issue of limiting the allowance.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison talking to farmers in Dalby last month. Overseas meetings are proving a distraction for the government but the drought problem is clearly not going away. Picture: Adam Taylor/PMO

Not everyone agrees with this, including relevant stakeholders, but the question the Government will face is this: why would farmers get kicked off the welfare after four years when the unemployed can stay on the dole for most of their working life without being given the boot?

Pauline Hanson has taken this view. The question for the Government is will they get ahead of One Nation or will they be forced into a position because of Hanson.

Renee Viellaris is the federal politics reporter for the Courier-Mail.