THE progress of the federal government’s drought strategy will be atop the agenda at a special meeting in Mullaley on Friday.
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The meeting will see Mullaley Drought Taskforce members meet with National Drought Co-ordinator Major-General Stephen Day.
Among the topics of feed availability, government support and forward thinking, recent talk about the uncertainty of $50 million in charitable donations will also be discussed.
Questions about the money first came to light in a recent interview with Sydney radio host Alan Jones.
In the interview General Day said he wasn’t sure exactly where all of the $50 million had been allocated.
“It's not my money, it's money owned by charities,” General Day said.
“There are a lot of charities. I actually don't know how many there are, I don't know if anyone does.”
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Aussie Helpers team member David Moon said he wasn’t surprised General Day was unsure of how the funds had been distributed.
“I would say most drought-related charities would have a similar privacy policy where they don’t release the details about who has donated or who those donations were given to,” Mr Moon said.
“Speaking from my own experience, I know Aussie Helpers does not pass along any details of the people we have helped to the government.
“Personally his comments don’t really surprise me, mostly because there wouldn’t be a database of sorts with that kind of information.”
Mr Moon said the allocation of drought assistance and donations would be brought up at Friday’s meeting.
“I think the question of how things are co-ordinated to ensure the help is evenly spread and people are not doubling up will certainly be raised,” he said.
“While charities may not be forthcoming with the details of who they are helping, there is nothing stopping the government from trying to keep track.
“At the moment, no government agency is out on the ground doing needs assessments to see what each farm needs.
“As well as that, any person or organisation that is assisting farmers in applying for government assistance doesn’t actually work for the government, so something could be done there.
“I think Friday’s meeting will be a good opportunity for locals to meet and find out where things are up to.”
Friday’s meeting will be the General’s second to the region after first meeting with locals in September.
Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
