Election 2025: Forgotten drought ‘must be first priority for new PM’

A crisis of historic proportions is unfolding across much of southern Australia, but farmers say you wouldn’t know it from federal election campaign.

Dairy farmer Robert Brokenshire says his Mount Compass property is in the grips of the ‘daddy of all droughts’. Picture: Matt Turner

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Whoever forms government after Saturday will need to urgently respond to an unfolding “forgotten” drought threatening hundreds of farms across much of southern Australia, farmers warn.

Vast areas of South Australia and western Victoria are well into their second year of crippling drought – some districts suffering a one in 100-year dry – while parts of southern NSW and Tasmania are also hard hit.

Farmers accuse both major parties of largely ignoring their plight during the federal election campaign, despite their belief the crisis is as severe as recent flooding in the country’s north.

With no sign of an immediate reprieve in climatologists’ forecasts, farmers want an urgent boost to assistance – and an early visit by the next prime minister.

“We are disillusioned and frustrated that we haven’t seen the PM here looking at our drought at all,” said Mount Compass dairy farmer Robert Brokenshire, president of the SA Dairyfarmers’ Association.

“The state government realises the intensity of the drought, but in total contrast, we’ve heard or seen nothing from the federal government.

“It’s the daddy of all droughts I’ve seen in my lifetime in my district, and it’s the worst drought in at least 100 years across the state.”

Mr Brokenshire with Peter Whitford, left, Jess, Isla, 5, and BJ Watson, right. Picture: Matt Turner

He feared some farms would not survive without “decent” rain in the next six weeks.

Some were relying on weekly $25,000 hay deliveries, or exhausting irrigation allocations and facing “enormously” higher energy bills for extra water pumping.

Others were reportedly being slugged “unsustainable” costs by banks to extended overdraughts.

“I’m quite scared of what the impact will be if we don’t get some rain in the next month,” Mr Brokenshire said.

“It will have a huge impact on whether or not a lot of grain growers plant. The fodder supplies are dwindling quickly, and we’re about to come into the coldest three months of the year, so any feed that is around will grow very slowly.”

A “silent” drought across much of southern Australia threatens hundreds of farms and must be a priority for the next federal government, farmers warn.

The National Farmers’ Federation will urge whoever is prime minister after Saturday to tour drought-affected regions within 30 days of taking office – and to address shortfalls in assistance.

It wants the next government to extend the Regional Investment Corporation’s loan capacity for drought-stricken farms beyond its expiry in June 2026.

It is also seeking a boost to the Rural Financial Counselling Service in drought-stricken areas.

National Farmers’ Federation president David Jochinke wants the post-election prime minister to visit drought areas within the first 30 days of winning office. Picture: supplied

“Drought dries up more than land,” said NFF president David Jochinke. “It drains local economies, family budgets and wellbeing. It’s not just farmers who feel it. It’s entire rural and regional communities.

“The next PM must get boots on the ground and hear first-hand what farmers are up against. It’s what farmers and drought-affected communities deserve.”

Nationals leader David Littleproud said the Coalition would extend the loan capacity and boost counselling by $1.8m. Labor did not respond by deadline.

Mr Brokenshire said the Farm Household Allowance – which offers help for struggling farming families – had an asset cap that precluded many, and this also needed addressing.

Bureau of Meteorology climatologist Caitlin Minney said ongoing dry conditions were forecast for drought-impacted areas throughout May.

However, there was some hope from June, with modelling not pointing strongly to either drier or wetter-than-average conditions in those areas.