Media Release

Centrelink assisting drought affected communities in South Australia

11 October 2007

Senator Chris Ellison, Minister for Human Services, Senator Cory Bernardi, Senator for South Australia and the Liberal Candidate for Grey, Rowan Ramsey, today visited drought affected areas in South Australia to see first-hand how Centrelink is delivering Australian Government services to regional Australia.

The Centrelink Drought bus is touring regional South Australia during October and November and is today in Tumby Bay on the Eyre Peninsula.

Senator Ellison said he was pleased to see the Drought Bus, a recent important innovation in the way Centrelink provides drought assistance and support, has been positively received in  the region and has been busy helping local farmers and small businesses.
“The Howard Government remains committed to supporting people in rural communities through one of the worst droughts in a century,” Senator Ellison said.

“The drought assistance package is making a practical difference to the financial and emotional health of rural Australia, and is well deserved by communities who have long made an important contribution to the wealth of the country.

“Importantly the Howard Government’s drought assistance package provides important financial support when it is needed as well as providing funding for research and development to strengthen the rural sector and an important boost to the services that are available to support family and mental health,” Senator Ellison said.

The recent $714 million enhancements to the $2.8 billion already committed in drought assistance package will mean more farmers and small businesses may now be eligible for financial and social support.  The new assistance package includes:

• changes to the income exemption limit criteria for the Exceptional Circumstances (EC) Relief Payment for both farmers and small businesses
• changes to the assets limit criteria for the EC interest rate subsidy for both farmers and small businesses
• immediate access to professional advice and planning assistance
• extending EC support to eligible small businesses in towns with populations of up to 10,000 that rely significantly on farmers for their income and have suffered a financial downturn
• Exit Grants of up to $150,000 for farmers who have decided to leave the land, with extra assistance of up to $20,000 for advice, retraining and relocation expenses
• additional specialist staff, including social workers, Rural Financial Counsellors and Rural Services Officers.
• extra funding for Australian Government and community counselling services

Mr Ramsay said he was pleased to have Senator Ellison and Senator Bernardi in the electorate to see first hand the reality of the way drought is affecting rural communities.

“It was important for me to be able to visit the drought bus and to speak with farmers and small business people who are themselves feeling the affects.

“Over 550 farmers and many small businesses on the Eyre Peninsula are receiving Australian Government support under the drought assistance package, and I am confident that the Prime Minister’s changes announced on 25 September will benefit many more.

“South Australia is now completely drought declared and I urge all small business people and farmers to not self assess their eligibility for entitlements.  Come and visit the Drought Bus or call the Drought Assistance Hotline on 13 2316 and Centrelink’s friendly specialist rural staff will be able to assist you.

“Importantly the people who work for Centrelink are locals who understand what farmers are going through.  Social workers are available to provide additional support and counselling to those attending the Drought Bus or calling the Drought Assistance line,” Mr Ramsey said.

Since the beginning of October, the Centrelink Drought Bus has already visited Ceduna, Wudinna, Kimba and Cowell.  Over the coming weeks, the Drought Bus will also be visiting Hawker, Orroroo and Peterborough.

Following the visit to Tumby Bay, Senator Ellison, Senator Bernardi and Mr Ramsey also toured the Centrelink Rural Call Centre in Port Augusta.

The call centre is one of two rural call centres in the country and provides calls made to the Drought Assistance Hotline and the Murray-Darling Basin Assistance and Referral Line, providing assistance and support to rural customers including Australian farmers and rural small businesses.

Media Contact:

Carly Phillips (Minister’s Office) (02) 6277 7200 or 0400 512 696.