Joint media release: $30 million boost to business, drought and climate change resilience

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Hon Julie Collins MP
South Australian Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, the Hon Clare Scriven MLC

South Australian farmers and producers impacted by drought will be supported through a $30 million boost to farm business and regional resilience programs.

Jointly funded by the Albanese and Malinauskas Labor Governments, this funding will see the Farm Business Resilience Program and Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program continue in South Australia to 2029.

These programs support farmers and regions to develop essential skills, capabilities and plans to help them manage through difficult circumstances, as well as to prepare for long-term resilience.

The Farm Business Resilience Program is sector-led in South Australia and provides tailored industry-specific learning and development to maximise relevance.

To date, more than 3,600 primary producers in South Australia have attended over 540 farm business training activities, workshops and events, and over 500 farm business plans have been created or updated.

Building on this success, the new funding will expand the program to reach more farmers and producers across more sectors.

Since the Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program started, six regional partnerships have developed drought resilience plans in the Murraylands and Riverland, Northern and Yorke, Far North and Outback, Limestone Coast, Eyre Peninsula, and Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island.

This new funding will support regions to put their plans into action, with grants for regional partnerships to undertake drought resilience projects along with support to govern and refine their plans.

The Farm Business Resilience and Regional Drought Resilience Planning Programs are jointly funded by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the Government of South Australia.

For more information about South Australia’s Future Drought Fund programs, visit the PIRSA website.  

For more information about the Future Drought Fund, visit the DAFF website.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins MP:

“Drought is always a case of when, not if, so being prepared is vital.

“This is another way the Albanese Labor Government, in partnership with the Malinauskas Government, is providing practical support to South Australian farmers and regional communities.

“We understand that farmers experiencing these harsh conditions are doing it tough, which is why our government is committed to supporting them build resilience to drought, so that they can continue producing the products we all love and rely on.

“Today’s announcement builds on the support we have available year-round, including concessional loans and free independent financial counselling.”

Quotes attributable to South Australian Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Clare Scriven MLC:

“The South Australian Government announced a $15.4 million investment in these two programs as part of the $73 million Drought Support Package in April this year and we are pleased to have secured matched funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.

“I recently met with Farm Business Resilience participants who credit this program for giving them the skills and knowledge they needed to better meet the challenges of this current drought.

“Drought and the impacts of climate change are becoming increasingly challenging for our primary industry sectors, associated industries and the regional communities that support them.

“The ongoing work to support building farm business and regional resilience and preparedness to deal with such events is a priority for the South Australian Government.”