14 May 2009
DAFF09/245B
The Nationals have shown they can’t be trusted with simple arithmetic and can’t read the Budget Papers, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke said today.
Mr Burke said the Nationals had embarrassed themselves by misreading the forward estimates and claiming $1 billion had been cut from the portfolio budget.
“This is 50 times greater than the actual cuts have been to the portfolio,” Mr Burke said.
“The Rudd Government has been absolutely up-front that this was a difficult budget and tough decisions had to be made.
“Nearly $20 million will be cut from the portfolio in total, including from Land and Water Australia, the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation and the Department.
“But that is a fraction – two per cent – of what the Opposition is mistakenly claiming.
“I suggest they go back and read the budget papers again and play a constructive role in discussing how to help cushion rural and regional Australia from the global recession.”
The funding which the Opposition mistakenly claimed was being cut includes:
- A reduction in demand-driven drought funding with fewer farmers expected to need assistance because conditions have improved in some parts of the country;
- This includes Exceptional Circumstances interest rate subsidies which were administered through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and will now be administered through Treasury;
- The end of the Dairy Adjustment Levy after the scheme to help farmers adjust to deregulation reached its end; and
- The conclusion of the Murray Darling Basin Grants for Irrigators Program.