Assisting our drought affected communities
As an electorate with a significant regional component, people in Berowra understand and are concerned about the significant effect the drought is having on our rural and regional communities. The drought we are experiencing is the worst in living memory.
Recently we had the Minister for Water Resources, Drought, Rural Finance, Natural Disaster and Emergency Management, Hon David Littleproud MP, visit the electorate to discuss the strategies the Government is using to assist farmers.
The Australian Government has invested more than $7.5 billion in a national drought strategy to support drought-affected farmers and communities since December, to provide relief now and to also prepare for future droughts, through the Future Drought Fund.
As the drought continues, our response will increase. We recently announced an additional $178 million will be made available immediately to regional economies through the Drought Communities Program, $200 million for the Building Better Regions Fund, and another $138 million to increase funding for drought-stricken areas through the Roads to Recovery Program.
The Future Drought Fund is a significant commitment the Australian Government has made towards preparing for future droughts. We have put aside $5 billion which will support drought-resilience initiatives, like water in infrastructure and funding for the states to build dams, to prepare our communities for another drought.
Australia’s rural communities are the backbone of our country. They feed our communities and drive our economy forward. It is a priority of our Government to sustain our farmers and their surrounding communities through this drought.
If you’re wondering how you can personally support our farmers and communities, there are a number of charities you can support, including the Go Country for Christmas initiative at www.gocountryforchristmas.com. au, you could also prioritise buying products made in regional Australia, or even take a weekend away in a regional town.
