Joint Agency Drought Taskforce

Assistance for farmers, their families and rural communities

Farmers, their families and their communities can access a range of government services and support to help them manage during times of drought and prepare for future conditions.

People are encouraged not to self-assess their individual situation, but to seek advice from an expert.

Visit FarmHub to access information about the drought support and services available.

You can also access information from the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources website.

The Prime Minister has stated the drought is one of his top and immediate priorities for the Government. On 19 August 2018, the Government announced the appointment of a Coordinator-General for Drought, Major General Stephen Day, DSC, AM. To support this work the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has established a Joint Agency Drought Taskforce in the Prime Minister’s department led by Major General Stephen Day.

The Prime Minister has also appointed a Special Envoy for Drought Assistance and Recovery, the Hon Barnaby Joyce MP to listen to affected communities so he can feed back a deeper picture of the human and economic impact of the drought, including positive examples of resilience. The Special Envoy for Drought will provide advice to the Prime Minister about the impact of relief efforts, including the performance of Government service delivery and advise about proposals that might be emerging from the community.

Read the Terms of Reference for the Coordinator-General for Drought.

Key Dates & Progress

Coordinator-General’s travel and meetings

February

12 February, 2019 – Swan Hill, Victoria – Met with the Mayor of Swan Hill, councillors, community members and farmers from Swan Hill and surrounding local government areas. Also visited a farming property to gain an understanding of local conditions and innovation in dryland farming practices.
6 February, 2019 – Narrabri, New South Wales – Met with the Mayor of Narrabri and attended the drought community outreach event, which connected farmers and members of the community with government and charity support.
5 February, 2019 – Moree, New South Wales – Visited a farm in Mungindi and met with local farmers, businesses, the Mayor, local council members and industry representatives.

January

31 January, 2019 – Canberra, Australian Capital Territory – Met with the former National Advocate for Soil Health, Major General the Hon. Michael Jeffery.
29 January, 2019 – Peterborough, South Australia – Met with the local council, state government representatives and farmers and visited a farming property to gain an understanding of local conditions.
25 January, 2019 – Brisbane, Queensland – Met with the Chair of QLD Reconstruction Authority to discuss disaster resilience and mitigation in relation to drought reliance strategies.
24 January, 2019 – Brisbane, Queensland – Attended the Australia vs Sri Lanka cricket test to participate in the drought relief fundraising efforts.
21 January, 2019 – Brisbane, Queensland – Meetings with Professor Aldar, an Israeli water engineer who has been heavily involved in Israeli drought resilience and water programs; and with the Local Government Association of Queensland to discuss their submission for the Commonwealth Strategy for Drought Preparedness and Resilience.
18 January, 2019 – Wentworth, New South Wales – Met with the Wentworth Shire Council, local farmers and small business owners.
3 January, 2019 – Bundara, NSW – Conducted farm visit with local farmers and community to discuss impact of drought

Coordinator-General's latest travel and meetings