We’ve had another piecemeal, modest and on-the-run drought announcement from the Morrison Government today. It’s amazing what one train-wreck interview can do.
The changes to the Farm Household Allowance (FHA), announced by the Prime Minister on radio this morning, means instead of him kicking desperate farming families off Farm Household Allowance (FHA) after four years, he’ll kick them off after the equivalent of four and a half years.
Forget the Government’s “30,000 farmers able to access this immediate support”.
This “immediate support” will only go to those unfortunate enough to have their FHA cancelled. Only around 7,500 have successfully accessed FHA. Of these, 600 have already been taken off, and another 500 will be cut-off by December. What a great Christmas present!
The modest changes announced today will require legislation. An earlier introduction would have provided more confidence that this dysfunctional Government can get the job done before Christmas.
The Prime Minister also wants journalists to believe that changes to the qualification periods will help farmers. All it actually means is that families being kicked off the payment now will be able to reapply in 2024.
The Government says it’s been waiting for the National Farmers’ Federation to deliver its drought strategy before acting. The Government now has the NFF report and therefore it’s run out of excuses for not producing a meaningful national drought strategy.
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