 More farmers getting
Federal drought aid
The
number of farmers receiving drought relief under the Federal Government’s
interim drought measures announced on 9 December has increased by 1,150 (53
per cent) in the last fortnight, Federal Agriculture Minister Warren Truss
said today.
“There are now almost
5,000 farm families receiving either the six-month interim assistance or
the two-year Exceptional Circumstances (EC) drought relief, with more than
$60 million already expended by the Federal Government,” Mr Truss said.
“The Commonwealth
expects the take-up of the assistance to continue to increase rapidly, and
we have allocated more than $900 million for direct financial assistance to
farmers during the present drought.”
In NSW alone, there
has been an increase in farm families receiving interim income support of
more than 25 per cent, while the number of farmers receiving full EC has
increased threefold in a month.
In Queensland, the
number of farm families receiving interim relief has almost doubled; while
in SA and WA farm families receiving the assistance have increased by more
than 100 per cent.
“It is satisfying to
note that more farmers are accessing the assistance that is now available
in all of NSW, most of Queensland and large tracts of Victoria, SA and WA.”
Farmers in areas
covered by drought relief (see attached map) should contact Centrelink on
13 23 16 to access Federal drought aid.
|
State
|
Farm families receiving
Interim support
To 17 Feb 03
|
Interim income support
|
Farm families receiving EC
support
To 31 Jan 03
|
EC
expenditure
|
|
NSW
|
1,717
|
$3,952,000
|
265
|
$1,070,000
|
|
QLD
|
320
|
$1,108,000
|
996
|
$27,890,000
|
|
VIC
|
1,181
|
$3,446,000
|
0
|
$2,800,000
|
|
TAS#
|
-
|
-
|
Declaration
finished in November 2002
|
$1,070,000
|
|
SA
|
32
|
$84,000
|
0
|
0
|
|
WA
|
81
|
$86,000
|
379
|
$18,630,000
|
|
NT
|
1
|
$2,000
|
0
|
0
|
|
Total
|
3,332
|
$8,678,000
|
1,640
|
$51,460,000
|
#TAS has no current
eligible areas.
Interim Income
Support figures include both Interim Income Support (for Prima Facie
Exceptional Circumstances regions) and the Additional Drought Assistance
Income Support. These are total figures current as at 17 February 2003 and
are taken from the start date of the programs.
Exceptional
Circumstances customer figures are based on numbers as at COB on 31 January
2003 and include Centrelink payments and business support payments provided
through Rural Adjustment Authoities.
|
Further media inquiries:
|
|
Minister Truss' office:
Tim Langmead
(02) 6277 7520 or 0418 221 433
|
|
|
|
