Agriculture Minister David Littleproud says adjustments to the upcoming budget, specifically the Farm Household Allowance, will be made in order to provide for drought affected farmers ‘as quickly as possible.’
Critics of the FHA have said it does not cover livestock feed, council rates, or on farm expenses, and despite farmers in every state experiencing some level of drought, fewer than 6,300 even receive the fortnightly FHA payment.
Farmers are calling for council rate relief as a more effective means of providing aid , but Mr Littleproud is leaving that decision to the states themselves, saying ‘no one is owed a living, and you can't enjoy the fruits of a market economy without fear of failure.’