Prime Minister
THE HON DARREN CHESTER MP, MEMBER FOR GIPPSLAND: Well first of all, it's great to welcome the Prime Minister here today along with my colleague David Littleproud, the Minister for Agriculture, Danny O’Brien the Member for Gippsland South and Melina Bath, Upper House and State MP as well. While it's great to be here, it's obviously a very sombre topic for us here in Gippsland. The drought is starting to bite very deeply for a lot of our dry land agriculture and the farmers we met with today make it very clear to us all that they are going through some pretty tough times. For some of our farming communities, this is the worst drought that they’ve experienced in a hundred years. So we need to keep working with them. And I've got to say I'm very pleased with the way Minister Littleproud and the Prime Minister have been responsive to the concerns I've raised about making sure we try and reduce the amount of red tape around farming household allowance and making sure we work with our local government members to try and get more infrastructure into our regional community and also work with the farming families themselves about how we can help their properties be more sustainable in the longer term.
We all know it's going to rain again. When it rains again, we want to make sure that our farmers can be viable in the longer term. So today's about listening to our farming families, getting a better appreciation of beyond the ground impacts of the drought and what are the steps we might need to take in partnership with both state and local government to try and reduce some of those cost structures and make sure our farming families are here for a very long time. So with those words PM, it's great to have you here in Gippsland. I would have preferred you had brought nice grey skies and a couple inches of rain but if it can’t rain it might as well be beautiful like today.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks Darren. And that is the purpose of my being here today. It doesn't matter what corner of the country you are in. If you’re being affected by drought I’m listening, whether it's here at Gippsland, whether it's in Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, doesn't matter where it is. Our Government is keenly interested in the plight of our rural communities. Of course those on farm, but also those who are in the towns who depend on the agricultural sector to provide the livelihood that exists right across Australia and in rural and regional centres. So it’s been a good opportunity to come here today and have a listen. It doesn't matter where I might be. The stories are different. The challenges are often different. The country is different and that means always you've got to have a very local response. And that's why a big part of our response is to work with the local shires and councils. The support that can be provided through those councils, that immediate support we've put in through our drought recovery program. That is, we know, providing some of useful support, but it's not everything. Whether it's the farm household allowance or the other measures that we've put in place, this is all important, but every single part of the country does need its own response. It does need its own plan. And that's why I’m pleased to come here today and meet with so many.
And I'll be meeting with more later on this afternoon. I'm meeting with Premier Andrews tomorrow, we’ll be talking about a large number of topics, but this will be one and there's been some feedback here for me today, but there's also been some important feedback here today for the state and I’m sure they’ll be interested to hear my firsthand relaying of that to the state government. I know the Victorian agricultural minister has been out here and would have got it firsthand too, I imagine, got some fairly direct feedback. So we'll have those discussions when we meet together tomorrow.
But there have been some announcements today, but I'm not overstating what they are. Some of them relate to parts of this district, but others don't. And what's most important is that we ensure that how we're responding to the drought is as useful here as it is in other parts of the country. And that's principally why I've come along today. I'm going to ask David to talk a bit about some of those particular announcements, but I do stress that they don't directly impact particularly where we're standing today, but in other parts of the district they do.
THE HON DAVID LITTLEPROUD MP, MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE AND WATER RESOURCES: Well thanks PM. Can I firstly say, last week we saw the lowest political act in this nation's history when the Labor Party and Kerryn Phelps voted against the Future Drought Fund. To politicise the misery of these people is something I never thought I'd see in this nation. They become irrelevant to this debate. Every Australian should be ashamed that they would vote against a future fund that goes to protect regional and rural Australia, make sure that we're prepared for future droughts. For them to vote against that is the lowest political act I've ever seen.
But we're going to get on with the job as the PM has said, and we're going to be agile, continue to be agile, we're going to come and listen. You don't want Canberra solutions, you want local solutions. So today we're proud to announce $31 million for the Macalister water project here to get greater efficiency. A project that was started 80 odd years ago and to be able to make sure we get greater efficiency to make sure there's more water available during the dry times. And so we're proud to be able to partner. We would ask the state government to consider kicking the tin with us, but we're also not just looking at irrigation. We're looking for those farmers that are out there doing it tough that don't have access to irrigation. We're also announcing on-farm order measurements, measure efficiency programs up to $25,000 or 25 per cent the Federal Government will kick in and that will allow farmers to desilt dams. To get in there while things are dry now and desilt those dams or put in pipes and troughs to get greater water efficiency. And I’d also reach out to the state government and ask them to kick the tin as well. In other states they're doing it. This'll be a real, tactile program that will give real results to farmers on the ground while they have the opportunity to do it now. But while cash flow is tight, it will be an opportunity to help them make these strategic investments in the here and now.
PRIME MINISTER: I'm happy to take some questions and we’ve got others who can field some of those questions as well. Let's just talk about what we’re here today about. I’ve already done a press conference early in the day on broader matters. I can take one or two on that if you insist, which I’m sure you will. So why don't we deal with the issues we’re here to talk about today and Darren and David and others can jump in.
JOURNALIST: What was some of the feedback you received?
PRIME MINISTER: Well I think one of... there were two key thing that seem to be really impacting at the moment. There’s obviously an impacts on cash flow and there the fodder transport and fodder subsidies that are being provided by state governments elsewhere aren’t being provided in Victoria. And that's a real issue of concern. Rate relief as well is another big issue. And again, that's an issue that is a state matter. Look, so I’ll pass those on to Dan tomorrow. I'm sure he's quite aware of those. He would have got the same big feedback when his ag minister was out here over the course of the week. We'll do the things that we can do and David is, as I think just set out what they are.
I mean two of the biggest areas of success in providing relief that we've found in our response to the drought. And this was also backed up at our Drought Summit last year. And then the follow on from that has been the support we've put in the councils and the support we’ve put on for the on-farm infrastructure. These two things have, as we've got the feedback from farming communities all across the country, they have been working well. Now, they are being rolled out here as well now. And the other issue is how long will this go on for? And I think there is a natural and understandable anxiety about what you're planning. How long is a piece of string, you know, in parts of the country they've been a drought for seven years. We're not down that far down the road here compared to those parts of the country.
So I think there's a natural anxiety about how much you can do and what you're trying to prepare for it. So you know, the farm household allowance, we didn't get a lot of feedback on that today, but we've got the rural financial counsellors, they’re the support people if you need that. I think David can update on how many people…
THE HON DAVID LITTLEPROUD MP, MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE AND WATER RESOURCES: About 380.
PRIME MINISTER: About 380 in this part of the world who are getting support on that and if others need it then the rural financial counsellors can come and assist you with that. Darren's office can support you in making sure you get access to that. The other thing we put in is support for the mental health services locally. Again, that has to be driven locally, that I would only ask all of those in the district to keep an eye out for each other. That's very important. It doesn't matter what time of the country you’re in, people tend not to volunteer how they're feeling about this stuff. That's, you know, it's, people are tough and they certainly like to be seen that way. But know that people are there to support you and help care for you and these services can just help you deal with a really tough time. So we're putting additional supportive of that but it's not the whole solution. It's just part of the support network that’s needed.
JOURNALIST: The Victorian Farmers Federation, the Wellington Shire Council and the East Gippsland Shire Council have all raised concerns that the criteria with the federal grant funding is too restrictive and it's not going to things that are actually helping farmers on the ground. What have you got to say to those concerns?
PRIME MINISTER: Well one of the biggest things that Wellington done has been doing water cartage, which has had a great response and that was one of the pieces of feedback that we've had. Remember that the million dollars we give to the council is not there as the entire response to the issues facing farmers on the land. That's where the on-farm infrastructure incentives, that's what they're there for. That's what the farm household allowance is there for. It is not the only thing. The principle role of those funds that go into those councils is to ensure that there is money circulating in the local economy. It's as much to keep local jobs, whether they are people who previously might have been working on a farm and now can’t because the farm isn't doing the work that it was doing before, and now they can be working in other areas. I mean, we've got people in Queensland doing it with dog fences. We've got others upgrading amenity blocks, we've got some that are doing roads, others are doing water cottage. So around the country the response has been that the parameters have been quite good and the important thing is it's giving local communities the decision making about how they spend the money.
JOURNALIST: The feedback we’ve had from many farmers and councils is anger and frustration. We've got the Wellington Shire Council spending $500,000 in upgrading the sale yards and the East Gippsland Shire Council is spending $700,000 on resurfacing car parks. Farmers are wondering how does it actually help them on the ground battling the drought?
PRIME MINISTER: I'll let Darren respond to that. But again, the million dollars to the councils is not intended as a farm subsidy. That's not its purpose. It was never designed that way. It was about understanding that all the towns [inaudible] drought affected communities, because those towns will not be getting the income from the ag sector coming in and spending in the towns. That won't be there. There'll be a cash drought in the towns because of the drought that is occurring on the properties. And so that's its purpose. And so there are many things we have to do and that's just one of the things, but Darren might want to comment. And the decisions are made locally, not by the Commonwealth.
JOURNALIST: But you approve them.
THE HON DARREN CHESTER MP, MEMBER FOR GIPPSLAND: Well thanks. And to clarify as the Prime Minister was saying, the infrastructure grants that local governments are being provided is intended to improve the infrastructure to boost local funding. I mean, I don't want to defend the East Gippsland Shire and Wellington Shire in that regard. The money they are spending is going to improve agricultural facilities for the long term. This is money that we need to spend anyway. If the council had to find it from their own rate revenue, it would be money taken from local roads, it would be money taken away from facilities. So the council, I think, has made responsible decisions to invest in their agricultural industries for longer term. We have a rich and a proud heritage in agriculture industries in Gippsland, but we also have a great future and part of that great future is having world-class lifestyle facilities for the sale of stock, making sure that we meet the animal welfare standards. And meet the expectations of the buying and the selling public. So I congratulate both councils for investing in the longer term, notwithstanding the fact that there's still more or what we can do with local state governments to address some of those social, economic and environmental issues on farm. And that's why we've been here today listening to farms concerns.
PRIME MINISTER: So what we’ve also done as we’ve rolled this program out, and Senator McKenzie has been, I think, very agile in listening to the feedback on the program. We've made a number of changes, as I have in terms of disaster payments in places that have been stricken by floods. And then one of the first things that we did in response to the Townsville floods was to pretty much straight away remove some of the paperwork requirements for people accessing those monies. And enabled us to get about $40 million out the door in about a week. So the Government, I think, has demonstrated an active ear when it comes to how these programs are rolling out on the ground. Frankly, that's the reason I'm here today. It’s to listen to some of those concerns that have come back and if the program needs to be altered, then we'll make those calls.
JOURNALIST: I have a question for Minister Littleproud, if you mind. So some of the feedback we've been having from local contractors, so for example hay cartage contractors, say that we were talking about the red tape around the rural financial household allowance. They say despite, you know, relying on the land for their income, they don't qualify as a farmer per se for the legislation and therefore are missing out on some assistance that could really help him. Is this something that you'll take away from these meetings and maybe reconsider redrafting the legislation?
THE HON DAVID LITTLEPROUD MP, MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE AND WATER RESOURCES: Well, look, obviously we are here listening and in fact I ordered a review into the farm household assistance program which was started in 2014. So it was long overdue. The reality is I've got to be honest, that is a safety net. It's a safety net for social security for people. It's not an entitlement. I have to be honest with people, but we are working through with an FHA review team to see whether we can streamline it, in terms of not only the application but in terms of how some of the income is treated so that it does in encompass an understanding of the agricultural sector better. But let me say, we'll continue to work through that and we're putting more rural financial counsellors on the ground. There was 116 RFCS staff, but I've put another 39 and we're continuing to go and listen. If there is a need for more rural financial counsellors on the ground, we'll put them in. We've been agile, the PM cut a cheque straight away when we needed an additional 39 and we'll continue to do more.
But we're not going to make it a Canberra-based solution, it has to be a local solution. If we're asked for that, then we'll look for that.
JOURNALIST: Can I ask you about on Aussie Farms, you wanted to revoke the charity status of Aussie Farms. What process is that at now?
THE HON DAVID LITTLEPROUD MP, MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE AND WATER RESOURCES: That's totally incorrect. I have not asked for any charity to have their charitable status revoked in terms of drought. I have written, I have written... Oh, sorry.
JOURNALIST: I’m talking about Aussie Farms, the organisation that published the locations of numerous farms.
THE HON DAVID LITTLEPROUD MP, MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE AND WATER RESOURCES: So obviously that's sent through to the Charities Commission. Under the provision of the Charities Commission that is something that isn't made public and I understand they're working through that process as they speak. It's not something that they would refer back to the Agriculture Minister. I understand they're working through that process, but I would hope that they would look very carefully at that. Because what this group has done is effectively putt and attack map on farmers and their homes where children. It is abhorrent. I don't think any Australian would say that is what a charity would do it. So I'll leave it to the Charities Commission. They're a reputable organization in terms of trying to sort this out. But I'd expect some action. I know everyone else would.
PRIME MINISTER: Let's do a couple of them, then we've got to get on the road.
JOURNALIST: Are you disappointed that a female wasn’t selected for Stirling?
PRIME MINISTER: Well it was a good field and the grassroots of the party made a decision after Michael's departure. I was in Tasmania this morning and, you know, down in Tasmania, whether it's in Bass or in Lyons or in our Senate ticket and just recently replacing Senator Bushby, I think there's been about 17 or 18 now, female candidates that have been selected both for the National Party and the Liberal Party since I became Prime Minister. Whether it's the seats like Lindsay or Macquarie in New South Wales and as I’ve already mentioned the ones in Tasmania. So look at, these are issues that will continue to work on as a Party. But at the end of the day, our Party rank and file make the decisions and that’s what’s happened on this occasion our candidate there who was selected yesterday, he’s an ex-serviceman. He’s served overseas in peacekeeping missions, he’s served his country. He used to work on Julie Bishop's staff, in fact. So look, we had some excellent choices to choose from yesterday and the Party rank and file have done that for Western Australia.
JOURNALIST: The Liberal Party still has to fill seats vacated by senior MPs, including some women. How difficult is that task?
PRIME MINISTER: It’s the same task as filling any of these seats. There’s the selection in Higgins and there’ll be a selection in Curtain as well. The Party will go through its normal processes to make their selections in each case. Now I tell you one thing that won’t happen, they won’t be picked by unions. They won't be big union vote blocks just coming in and telling our Party who our candidates should be. That's how things roll in the Labor Party. That's not how it works for the Liberal Party.
JOURNALIST: Potentially thirteen weeks from here until the election, how do you feel?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we're just focusing on the things that matter to Australians. That's why I'm here today. We are focused on ensuring our economy is strong so we can support essential services that Australians rely on. As I said earlier today, today we have said that from the first of next month, first of April I should say, there will be access to heart checks for all Australians under the Medicare system and it's unlimited, I should stress. The Labor Party's put a cap on how much can be done, ours is uncapped and that will be available to all Australians, uncapped. We're announcing today more listed medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. This time dealing with leukemia, taking a drug that would cost around $8,000 I think down to just a 40 bucks, just over 40 bucks and $650 if you’re on a concession.
Now you can't do these things unless you're investing in having a stronger economy. You can't turn up and provide support, whether it's in the flood-riven communities of North Queensland or drought savaged communities of Victoria. If you don't have a strong economy, I mean you're dipping into an empty bucket and that's what the Labor Party will offer - an empty bucket. The only time there'll be anything in that bucket is if they put their hand in your pocket and take more taxes from you.
So running a strong economy enables us to support these important programs, whether it's in the drought affected communities, flood affected communities, essential services like on Medicare. I mean, we have the highest level of bulk billing for Medicare on record. That's what we've been able to achieve by running a strong economy and supporting essential services. So you asked me how I feel? I feel we're doing a great job focusing on the things that really matter to Australians - their economy, their security, their safety, their future, and for standing by them when they're going through stuff, which is really tough. Like they are here and like they are in many parts of the country and I think they know, all those quiet Australians out there. They don't get around being advocates, they don’t get around, you know, shouting and going to marches and all this sort of thing. They're just trying to keep their farms going. Keep their small businesses going. They're taking their kids to school and raising them. They're doing the best they can, running their lives and having their aspirations and they know I can hear them and I know exactly what they're saying and I'm totally on their side. Thanks very much.