Anthony Albanese turns up to drought but farmers say more is needed

Anthony Albanese has finally heeded pleads to visit drought-stricken areas. Farmers say ‘action’ is what is needed next from the PM.

Anthony Albanese in South Australia with Troy and Nette Fischer, and children Isabelle, 16, Indigo, 14, and Elke, 9. Picture: PMO

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Anthony Albanese is promising further drought assistance after finally heeding pleas to visit affected farmers, amid renewed pressure to significantly lift federal involvement in tackling the ­nation’s big dry.

The Prime Minister on Monday toured drought-stricken areas in South Australia, announcing a $2m increase to financially counselling for those impacted.

However, he came under pressure from farming groups and the Coalition to do more, via extending low or no interest loans and helping farming families access household support.

Mr Albanese said his government was already providing $1bn to drought programs, including through low interest loans, but conceded it would not be enough.

“We know that there will be more needed, we know that that’s the case,” he said, while announcing this year’s National Drought Forum would be held in Gawler, SA. “But one of the reasons why we’re here (in drought-stricken SA) is consulting – seeing first-hand.”

Agriculture Minister Julie Collins also conceded the $2m extra, on top of $800,000 in support announced last week, might be insufficient. “We’re not ruling anything out in terms of where we go from here,” Ms Collins said. “We’ll continue to engage with stakeholders and with the state governments in relation to what support is needed, particularly if it doesn’t rain in coming weeks.”

Victorian farmers say state drought support is weak and costly. They want grants for water and feed.

The National Farmers Federation welcomed Mr Albanese’s visit, which follows weeks of lobbying from the peak body, its state counterparts and individual farmers for the Prime Minister to see conditions first-hand.

“The conditions have to be seen to be believed, and it means a great deal to these communities to have the PM shine a spotlight on what’s happening,” said NFF president David Jochinke.

“Things are really tough right now in large parts of SA and Victoria, as well as areas in Tasmania, NSW and Western Australia. We’re not just talking about dry paddocks and low rainfall. For some regions, there’s been multiple bad seasons and entire communities are under pressure.”

He hoped the Prime Minister’s and minister’s visit would “help them see the urgency of the situation – and the need for action”.

In particular, the NFF wanted the government to extend the low interest loan capacity of the ­Regional Investment Corporation beyond its current expiry in June 2026, and provide further mental health support for farmers and regional communities.

“We also have to acknowledge that with this drought traversing multiple states we need strong coordination across all levels of government to ensure support flows seamlessly to farmers,” Mr ­Jochinke said. “Drought doesn’t just hit farms. It hits the main street, the servo and the pub. When agriculture takes a hit, so do regional economies.”

Nationals leader David Littleproud called on Labor to bring back interest-free loans for farmers impacted by drought and floods.

“In 2020, the Coalition introduced a two-year interest-free period for loans up to $2m for farmers experiencing hardship during the drought,” Mr Littleproud said.

 “The zero per cent interest rate applied to new and existing drought loans and to refinance existing debt from a farmer’s commercial bank, to give farmers some breathing space, saving them cashflow and giving them time to restock and replant.

 “It stopped a lot of farms from going bankrupt. It is clear recent rain and drought events are really hurting farmers, which is why I am calling on Labor to revisit this.”