One year after Australia’s 16-year drought ‘The Big Dry’ was confirmed to have broken, parts of Queensland and New South Wales were again declared to be in drought. The Bureau of Meteorology recorded rainfall deficiencies between April 2012 and January 2014, with most of Queensland and inland of the Great Dividing Range in New South Wales experiencing serious to severe deficiencies, having less than 70 per cent of their long-term average rainfall.
On 1 April 2013, 13 regional councils, the equivalent of one third of Queensland was covered by drought declarations. This grew to 60 per cent by October 2013 and by March 2014, 80 per cent of Queensland was officially in drought, including all 10 shires in the state’s north-west. As of 1 January 2015, there were 44 entire local government areas and three part local government areas drought declared, with another 78 Individually Droughted Property (IDP) declarations in an additional nine local government areas.
In May 2013, one sixth of New South Wales was in drought and by February 2014, 62 per cent of the state had received no significant rainfall for two years. Graziers experienced falling cattle prices and loss of income, with some having to shoot their stock or move them to other properties in response to deteriorating pasture and water availability.
In November 2013, the New South Wales State Government announced a $7.6 million package of emergency support to farmers in the Bourke, Brewarrina and Walgett councils and in February 2014 that was raised to $14.6 million. In January 2014, the Queensland State Government announced an extra $20 million would be added to the Drought Relief Assistance Scheme, taking the total to $31 million.
On 26 February 2014, the Federal Government announced a $320 million drought package, which includes:
- $280 million in loans to help eligible farm businesses recover from the effects of drought
- $12 million extra for emergency water infrastructure schemes
- $10 million for pest management and
- $10.7 million for social and mental health services in affected communities
Further details will be provided as they become available.