Premier Peter Malinauskas and Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Clare Scriven on Friday visited the Limestone Coast to hear directly from farmers impacted by the drought.


The Premier and Minister visited landholders in the Wattle Range area, meeting with them individually and in group settings to outline the $73m Drought Support Package, which has been developed in direct consultation with farmers and industry representatives.


The State Government has also appointed Alex Zimmerman as the Commissioner for Drought Support in South Australia to assist with managing the drought response, including monitoring the progress of drought support and addressing any issues or barriers.


A former chief inspector with South Australian Police, Mr Zimmerman has also previously served to assist communities impacted but other disaster events.


More than 2300 applications have been approved for the On-Farm Drought Infrastructure Grants program which provides grants up to $20,000 for projects that help manage drought conditions and strengthen preparedness.


Premier Malinauskas said the State Government has funded the transport costs of charities to deliver more than 6000 tonnes of donated hay to over 700 farmers across South Australia, with more deliveries to come, while more than $240,000 in funding has been granted for events that encourage communities to come together, share experiences and reinforce the unity and strength of rural areas.


The package includes grants to cover council rates and other essential expenses and significant investment in mental health support.


“Work on funnelling support to those affected by drought right across the state remains ongoing, and we will continue to back in our farmers through this difficult time,” Premier Malinauskas said.


“We have now appointed a drought commissioner, and we are getting money out the door and into the hands of farmers as quickly as possible.”


Minister Scriven said both she and the Premier were listening to the concerns of farmers, primary industry representatives and regional communities as the impacts from the drought continue to be felt across the state.


“The impacts from the drought are going to be felt for a long time, we are committed to working with our farmers and regional communities to navigate this challenging time now and into the future,” she said.