Grain Producers SA (GPSA) is inviting the reappointed Federal Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister to visit South Australia to witness firsthand the impact drought is having on the state’s grain producers.
The organisation has congratulated Minister Julie Collins on her reappointment, made in the wake of the federal election result earlier this month.
GPSA has written to the minister to invite her to visit grain producers and communities affected by what has been one of the driest 16-month periods on record.
Chief executive Brad Perry said Minister Collins had met with GPSA online during the caretaker period of government, but conditions on the ground had since worsened.
“We congratulate Minister Collins on her reappointment and look forward to continuing a constructive working relationship. However, the situation on the ground in South Australia is dire,” he said.
“Grain producers are still grappling with one of the most severe droughts in recent memory, with many regions recording their driest seasons in over a century. Worryingly, rain forecasts predict very little in the coming weeks.
“This drought is not just impacting individual farming businesses – it is undermining entire regional economies and taking a significant toll on mental health across our communities.”
Mr Perry said GPSA had previously invited Minister Collins to South Australia and was renewing the invitation following the federal election.
“We strongly believe the best way for decision makers to understand the full extent of this drought is to see it firsthand and speak directly with the growers who are living through it every day,” he said.
“We would welcome the opportunity to work with the Minister’s office to coordinate a visit to the hardest-hit areas and ensure she hears directly from producers who urgently need greater support from the federal government.
“GPSA is calling for emergency drought relief from the federal government, alongside longer-term reform measures, including a review of the asset threshold for the Farm Household Allowance.”
