Fluidra Commercial
Fluidra Commercial Australia develops innovative, highly technical and sustainable solutions designed to create unique aquatic facilities for the 'Commercial Pool' category. Public…
read moreThe Federal Government’s $100 million funding package for regions suffering from the effects of an ongoing drought has come under scrutiny following an audit shows that some of the money was spent on regional music festivals.
The Winton Shire Council in Queensland reportedly used part of its grant funding to provide $820,000 to the Way Out West fest, while Gunnedah Shire Council spent around $40,000 on “two great country music events” that were supported by the Gunnedah Show Society and Gunnedah Rugby Club, including a ‘Day with the Devils’ and ‘5th Annual Country Music Muster’.
Guidelines for the Drought Communities Program have previously prohibited grants from being used on “staging events, exhibiting a display or for filming”, but this was dropped from the most recent guidelines.
The grants provide up to $1 million for each drought-affected community, with the latest guidelines calling on councils to provide information about how projects are expected to lead to the employment of locals, including farmers, and farm labourers.
If a project does not meet the criteria, it must show that projects provide either economic activity or “business retention” in a drought-affected community.
Federal Labor MP Ed Husic has questioned whether the grants should instead be going directly to farmers, telling The Guardian “at a time when farming families are seeing payments being stopped and others struggling to even get them from this government the general public will be stunned to think that drought aid isn’t going to these people, but is being used to support events like music festivals.
“I am sure those things have a place but the public would rightly expect the government to provide financial support to farmers who are actively thinking of leaving the land because of the drought.”
Federal Minister for Water Resources and Drought David Littleproud defended the funding allocation as being used to employ locals, bring money into their towns and giving “emotional support by bringing them together and leave a lasting legacy of hope for the future.”
Image shows the Way Out West fest.
25th September 2019 - Drought affected NSW councils pledge to keep aquatic centres open
7th March 2019 - Moree Plains Shire Council concerns over drought impact on established trees
6th February 2019 - Climate change set to impact Australia’s summer sporting calendar
20th April 2018 - Reopening of Outback Queensland’s Waltzing Matilda Centre set to boost tourism
4th November 2016 - Addressing climate change a must for sustainable tourism programs
17th May 2016 - QCAS helps Maleny Agricultural Show make the most digital technology
25th April 2015 - Western Queensland drought impacts local sport
9th July 2014 - Grants keep Queensland agricultural shows alive and well
16th June 2014 - Queensland regional events boosted by $500,000 funding
17th October 2012 - Agricultural shows in decline, while country events thrive
15th August 2012 - Without volunteers agricultural shows ‘will cease to exist’
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