MP’s drought fund criticism

Drought-hit South East farmers need “immediate help” from government-funded relief packages, rather than money for future mitigation measures or coping strategies.

That is the view of independent member of the Legislative Council of South Australia Sarah Game, who says her assessment of the state government’s drought-relief packages has been – in part – informed by her communication with South East farmers.

“Naturally, I’m in favour of drought-relief packages, but there’s a feeling that much of it – however well-intentioned – misses the point,” Dr Game told The [Naracoorte] News.

“Because farmers need help immediately; they need hay, grain and compensation for karting water.

“My office has heard that for some farmers, every spare dollar is going towards keeping stock alive.

“Funding to make farms more ‘drought resilient’ or to ‘strengthen drought preparedness’ is all well and good, but this crisis is happening now.

“Farmers aren’t worried about the next drought, they’re worried about what’s happening today.”

Last month, the state government announced a $55 million package of assistance to support drought-affected farmers and communities across the state, on top of an initial $18 million announced last November.

The government said the package had been designed “in direct consultation with primary producers, including a roundtable with farmers and key industry bodies”.

Dr Game pointed to several new assistant measures announced by the government, including $17.4 million for “future drought fund preparedness and resilience programs”, $13 million for “on-farm drought infrastructure grants”, $2.5 million for a “mental health and resilience” strategy, and $1 million for rural financial counselling.

However, the government’s package also included an additional $4 million to assist charities with freight costs of donated fodder, plus $500,000 to make bulk water available from Bundaleer and Beetaloo reservoirs.

In addition to questioning what the funding package targeted, Dr Game said any assistance dependent on matched funding – regardless of the percentage required – was potentially problematic for some farmers, given their current “cash-flow challenges”.

“The overall package would be great, if we weren’t mid-drought,” she said.

“Some farmers need money for water to fill their troughs and keep livestock alive. That’s their top priority right now.

“Receiving help right now – or preferably decent rain – would make things like financial advice less important.”

Dr Game has recently been campaigning for the state government to relax its rules for on-farm dams, which allow farmers to water stock and crops.

This article appeared in The Naracoorte News, 4 June 2025.