Western Australian government’s drought relief package welcomes by some, deemed ‘bandaid’ by others

A desperately anticipated announcement for the farmers of Southern Washington. I’ve listened to farmers, which is why today I’m announcing a significant $8.6 million drought relief and resilience package. Having already acknowledged 2024 as one of the driest, hottest starts to autumn on record was agriculture minister today, offering a series of grants, investments and mental health provisions to help farmers brought their knees by the prolonged dry weather. Many farmers are facing mental health challenges at this difficult time and whether it’s about looking after livestock or seeing your vegetable crops wither, we just this is an acknowledgement the farming families are doing it really tough at the moment. Farming representatives say the $1.5 million allotted to water infrastructure won’t be enough for a sector that hasn’t seen rain since September. Well, it’s all helpful in its capacity, but it’s it’s if have we have we gone far enough? I mean have we gone far enough in supporting water infrastructure? I probably. I think that there’s probably not enough in that. Eager farmers already digesting the funding package, not yet convinced if it will fulfill their needs. It’s probably going to help for about maybe two weeks to a month if I was actually eligible to get a grant or a loan, and if I was successful in getting one. And with so many in the sector in need, farmers fear there’s not enough to go around. I’m not entirely confident. I think it’ll be highly competitive, an anxious wait as the pressure mounts on farmers.