Wayne Swan: “Drought? What drought?”

The Budget papers released last night by the Rudd Government appear to indicate that drought assistance to Australia’s struggling farmers will be wound down. The National’s Senator for New South Wales, Fiona Nash, said it would appear that new Exceptional Circumstances declarations will not be recognised by Prime Minister Rudd or Treasurer Swan. “This means that when the current ones run out, they will not be renewed,” she said. “A ‘transitional welfare fund’ of $14 million for farmers who are struggling indicates the Government is backing out of its commitment to EC.” Senator Nash said this is not the time for the Rudd Government to turn its back on farmers and regional communities who depend on agriculture for their prosperity, after years of drought have brought many parts of country Australia to the brink of ruin. “The Prime Minister and his government must continue to support rural and regional Australians through this drought-affected time,” she said. “If he winds down Exceptional Circumstances assistance, Kevin-07 will become Kevin-0-nothing to those regional Australians who are struggling very hard to keep this country in food and fibre.”

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