$150m for space to ‘help farmers’

The Coalition has denied it is not doing enough for the bush during a critical drought, and defended the $150m invested in NASA.

Minister for Industry, Science and Technology and Gold Coast MP Karen Andrews visited local space company Gilmour Space Technologies with CEO Adam Gilmourto. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Science Minister Karen Andrews has defended Scott Morrison’s $150m space deal with NASA amid criticism from Labor frontbenchers who say the record funding would be better spent on drought relief.

Ms Andrews told Sky News on Monday the investment would indirectly support farmers by helping track cattle from space and by supporting the manufacturing industry through the creation of an additional 20,000 jobs.

“We do put a lot of money into supporting our farmers and they need every single cent of the support that we’re giving them, and also that state governments and the community is providing to farmers. They are doing it incredibly tough,” Ms Andrews said.

It comes after opposition energy spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon on Monday morning lashed the government for not doing enough to assist struggling farmers.

“I don’t think people in rural Australia would mind $150m being spent on a space mission if the government here in Australia was taking their problem seriously and putting substantial amounts of money into their pie as well,” Mr Fitzgibbon told Seven’s Sunrise.

Labor frontbencher Tanya Plibersek also weighed in to the debate, telling Nine’s Today show Barnaby Joyce had failed to write a single report while travelling around the country as the government’s special envoy for drought assistance and recovery.

The former Nationals leader was appointed to the now-scrapped position when Mr Morrison reshuffled his ministry after being elevated to prime minister in August last year.

“We’ve seen no report from Barnaby Joyce about his work. Wouldn’t that money have been better spent actually helping people on the ground, rather than having a summit, a co-ordinator, an envoy, and a future fund that doesn’t actually spend any money until 2020?” Ms Plibersek said.

But Mr Joyce shot down the claims, telling Sunrise Labor had “got it wrong” on his contribution to the role, claiming he sent multiple reports to Mr Morrison during his time as drought envoy. “I actually sent heaps of reports to the Prime Minister,” he said.

Agriculture Minister Bridget McKenzie pushed back against calls to fast-track drought funding.

“The reality is that money is flowing into those communities right now,” Senator McKenzie told Nine. “There are over 20 councils who are drought-affected who are receiving a million dollars each to make sure their small businesses are actually having money clicking through them while the farmers are doing it tough.”