Almost 70 per cent of Queensland is now in the grip of drought, with eight new declarations expanding financial support for struggling farmers. 9News
Eight new shires and councils, all of them in the southeast corner, have been added to the state's list of drought-stricken communities.
That means 67.4 per cent of the state is now officially in drought, with 41 councils fully drought declared, and another four partially declared.Stanthorpe is not expecting any rain for months. The latest local government areas added to the list are Noosa, the Gold and Sunshine coasts, Redlands, Logan, Gympie, Sunshine Coast, and the Fraser Coast.
Primary producers who derive half their income from the land in those areas will now be eligible for financial support, including freight and water subsidies. "These are difficult times and as a government, we're standing shoulder to shoulder with our farmers and supporting them," state Agriculture Minister Mark Furner told ABC radio on Tuesday.The government is putting on three additional drought assessment officers to cope with the expected influx of requests for support.
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