3 years ago
DROUGHT SUMMIT ANNIVERSARY
JOEL FITZGIBBON MP
Two years ago today 80 people gathered in Canberra’s Old Parliament House for Scott Morrison’s National Drought Summit.
Before the Summit even began, the Prime Minister announced what he claimed was the solution: his $5 billion Future Drought Fund. Two years on, not one cent from the fund has been spent.
The Morrison Government loves an announcement but it’s hopeless on the follow through.
In his opening address the Prime Minister said: “We’ll begin operating the fund as soon as we are able to pass legislation through the Parliament.”
Having been led to believe money was coming their way, farmers and drought-impacted communities are still waiting. But the announcement gave Scott Morrison something to say during the 2019 election campaign.
Drought Envoy, Barnaby Joyce, told the Summit: “We will leave here as a nation, we will have a plan. And we’ll be brave enough to build the dams.”
Sadly, yet unsurprisingly, the Drought Envoy role proved to be another political fix by Scott Morrison. Barnaby Joyce failed to produce a report or a plan and two years on, not a sod has been turned for any new dams.
In one of the hottest and driest droughts in our history, the Future Drought Fund was a mirage to draw farmers to the Liberal and National how-to-vote cards. Its headline was big, but its impact negligible.
Our farmers and regional communities have received welcome rains in recent months, but the scourge of drought is not behind us. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister continues to provide lip-service to our farmers.
Before the Summit even began, the Prime Minister announced what he claimed was the solution: his $5 billion Future Drought Fund. Two years on, not one cent from the fund has been spent.
The Morrison Government loves an announcement but it’s hopeless on the follow through.
In his opening address the Prime Minister said: “We’ll begin operating the fund as soon as we are able to pass legislation through the Parliament.”
Having been led to believe money was coming their way, farmers and drought-impacted communities are still waiting. But the announcement gave Scott Morrison something to say during the 2019 election campaign.
Drought Envoy, Barnaby Joyce, told the Summit: “We will leave here as a nation, we will have a plan. And we’ll be brave enough to build the dams.”
Sadly, yet unsurprisingly, the Drought Envoy role proved to be another political fix by Scott Morrison. Barnaby Joyce failed to produce a report or a plan and two years on, not a sod has been turned for any new dams.
In one of the hottest and driest droughts in our history, the Future Drought Fund was a mirage to draw farmers to the Liberal and National how-to-vote cards. Its headline was big, but its impact negligible.
Our farmers and regional communities have received welcome rains in recent months, but the scourge of drought is not behind us. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister continues to provide lip-service to our farmers.