Media Release

Federal member for Kennedy and KAP Leader Bob Katter today said it was time that the Government stopped searching for solutions to drought assistance in Australia when the solution was right in front of their eyes – an ARDB (Australian Reconstruction and Development Board).

The Agricultural Minister yesterday announced a plan to deliver funding for ‘shovel-ready projects’ in drought affected towns with reports suggesting funding of between $20m and $40m might be available for projects such as fencing, road works or ditch digging.

Mr Katter said today that whilst he welcomed any package that gave a leg up to small communities affected by the drought, the package did not go anywhere near far enough to saving the agricultural industry in Australia.

“You need to save the base industry, without that the towns have got no hope,” Mr Katter said.

“The reality is that these towns depend upon the cattle industry and to some extent the wool industry that was destroyed by de-regulation.

“Unless the base industry is to survive, all the propping up and government handouts in the world are not going to result in the inland being saved.”

The Agricultural Minister’s office when asked were unable to deliver any timeframe for release of the final drought assistance package and said that they were still meeting with local councils for feedback on the measures to be implemented.

“They say they’re taking feedback, well come on, the drought’s been going on for 3 years,” Mr Katter said.

“Whist there’s been some areas that have had a bit of rain, the bigger picture is that for the central west and parts of the mid-west, this will be the third year that the wet season has failed.

“The Government says they’re looking into it, they’re having inquiries, they’re deeply concerned?

“Do they realise what that sounds like to the people of inland Australia who are financially and physically dying?

“We don’t want to draw attention to the fact that the last time the figures were released there was a person in rural Australia doing away with themselves every 4 days, but that is the fact of the matter.

“And the Government’s answer to the problem is a mere $20 million and that they’ll keep seeking feedback?

“Do they realise that this Government will go down in history as the Government that put the coup de grace on inland Australia?”

Mr Katter said that everybody in the industry agreed that a reconstruction board was desperately needed and that the beauty was that it would not cost the Government a cent.

“Whether it’s Shire Councils, industry representatives or massive grass roots crisis meetings like Winton’s ‘Last Stand’, there has been complete unanimity of opinion that a reconstruction board is needed,” Mr Katter said.

“The beautiful part is that it costs the Government no money.

“It shrinks the bank repayments for an average million dollar debt from $150,000 in interest and repayments to probably $25,000 per year, once the Government takes over the debt at a reduced rate and loans it back to the farmer at the Government interest rate of 2.25%.

“So the farmer’s commitments shrink, which means that almost all will pull through.

“That has been the experience with every single reconstruction board initiative in the last 100 years and I speak with authority as I was the Minister with primary responsibly when we did it for the sugar industry in Queensland.

“So we plead with the Government and the various responsible ministers, for the nth time, there is only one way to address this crisis at a Federal and State level.

“It’s time to stop consulting, the answer is there, it’s time we save inland Australia,” Mr Katter said.