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- 25 June 2003
Drought Assistance
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Page: 2129
Mr SLACK-SMITH: My question is to the Minister for Regional Development, representing the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries. Why has the Minister budgeted to continue drought support funding only until the end of December based on the flawed forecast of the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics [ABARE], the very agency the Minister criticised last week, cutting Rural Assistance Authority drought assistance funding by 40 per cent?
Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Murrumbidgee to order for the third time.
Mr CAMPBELL: In the financial year just ending the Government expects to spend $80 million on drought relief. Over the next six months the Government has budgeted a further $47 million to maintain the high level of spending on drought assistance. As the Treasurer said yesterday, if the drought does not break we will have to spend more than that. That sums up the situation.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the National Party will cease interjecting.
Mr CAMPBELL: Substantial funding has been spent and allocated, and the Government has made a commitment to work with the industry on an as-needs basis.
Mr SLACK-SMITH: I ask a supplementary question. Why did the Minister take advice from ABARE on 14 April, and does the Minister think the drought is over too?
Mr SPEAKER: Order! That is not a supplementary question. It does not arise from the Minister's answer.
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