New drought support funding for our rural communities

​The Tasmanian Government has announced a new $4.8 million package of drought support funding, including for mental health, business advisory and animal welfare services for Tasmanian rural communities.

The new support funding is in addition to the recent extension of financial drought assistance for eligible farmers across the State and will provide the services and support needed now to build long-term drought resilience across our State.

New funding support includes:

  • $175,000 to Rural Business Tasmania for additional advisory services to assist farmers to apply for and access government drought support grants and programs and connect to the Rural Financial Counselling Service;

  • $200,000 for Rural Alive and Well to contract more counselling support for farmers;

  • $150,000 funding to TasFarmers to expand their community drought coordination and preparedness activities on King Island and onto Flinders Island and mainland Tasmania to facilitate drought response and recovery as required; and

  • $275,000 funding in livestock animal welfare services for Biosecurity Tasmania to expand their animal nutrition and welfare outreach services to key dairy and livestock producing districts, along with expanded animal welfare monitoring.

Additionally, complementary long-term resilience measures to improve water security and drought preparedness, as well as a provision for more support where possible to help get important feed and fodder to the Bass Strait Islands and mainland Tasmania will be introduced.

This includes: 

  • $1.5 million for Bass Strait Islands Water Resilience Program​: 

    • to identify improved water storage, reticulation, and other water security measures to meet community needs; and

    • creation of a new King and Flinders Islands Water Infrastructure Rebate Scheme​ to assist livestock producers with 25% up to $15,000 for the purchase and installation of new, or repairs to existing water infrastructure.

  • $1 million for regional drought plan implementation, including to leverage additional funding from the Australian Government; and

  • ​$1.5 million for additional sailings and, if achievable, fodder relief for the Bass Strait Islands and the mainland of Tasmania.

Details on how farmers can access funding will be provided as programs are rolled out.