The State Government has called on the Commonwealth Government to support Western Australian farmers as they suffer from the impacts of climate change.
Minister for Water, Dave Kelly said the Federal Government’s Off-farm Efficiency Program provided funding for off-farm water efficiency infrastructure projects, but it dis so only for the Murray-Darling Basin States.
“Western Australia has received under two per cent of available Commonwealth water management and infrastructure funding over the past 10 years, with almost all going to the Murray-Darling Basin States,” Mr Kelly said.
Noting that Western Australia had been successful in securing $20 million for its farmers through the Commonwealth’s National Water Grid Fund Connections pathway, the Minister said WA farmers had to advocate for close to 12 months to secure the important funding.
“The Commonwealth Government’s continued focus on the Murray-Darling Basin States, as demonstrated by the recent announcement of the Off-farm Efficiency Program, means WA farmers have again been excluded from important Federal water infrastructure funding,” Mr Kelly said.
“The southern half of the State is being hit particularly hard by the impacts of climate change and reduced rainfall, presenting long-term water security challenges for farmers in the regions.”
He said however, the Commonwealth had continued to demonstrate its Eastern States focus and ignored the plight of WA’s agricultural communities.
“The Commonwealth Government seems happy to fund dams on the East Coast while not supporting WA farmers to secure urgently needed water supplies in the face of climate change,” Mr Kelly said.