Queensland is now free of drought with the last two local government areas having their drought status revoked.
Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner accepted the recommendations of Local Drought Committees and DAF to lift the drought declaration status of Bulloo and Diamantina council areas.
Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner said this is a landmark moment for Queensland, with no shires being drought declared for the first time in over 10 years.
“We know many farmers did it tough during the long years of drought, so the improvement in seasonal conditions that has led to these declarations being lifted has been important,” said MP Furner.
Representing almost 10 per cent of the land area of Queensland, those two shires were the last still considered impacted by the drought that started in early 2013 and the recommendation to revoke drought status after improved conditions during 2023 and 2024.
This final revoking of drought declared shires in Queensland also spells the end of previous programs such as the Drought Relief Assistance Scheme.
“Previous programs such as freight subsidies under the Drought Relief Assistance Scheme will not be available in future droughts,” said Mr Furner.
“But we all know that droughts will happen again and that is why the Queensland Government now provides funding to help our primary producers prepare for the next drought.
“Thanks to our government’s ground-breaking reforms, primary producers no longer need to be in a drought-declared area to access assistance . . . and is open to eligible primary producers across all agricultural sectors with a focus on preparedness and resilience.”
Programs include the Farm Business Resilience Program that provides information and training sessions to improve drought preparedness, including help with a Farm Business Plan and the Farm Management Grants program that provides rebates of up to 50 per cent up to $2500 to primary producers to develop a plan.
And the Queensland Rural Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) is delivering drought preparedness grants of up to $50,000 and drought ready and recovery concessional loans up to $250,000 that are available in any year, regardless of drought status.
For further information on drought assistance visit daf.qld.gov.au or call the Customer Service Centre on 13 25 23.
