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Government defends drought aid
25 May 2005
The federal government rejected criticism that drought aid for farmers was business welfare. The government is expected to spend $670 million on drought relief. Professor Peter Cullen, a water expert and government adviser said 10 per cent of farming land was now unsustainable, and instead of throwing money at farmers, governments needed to help them to leave the land with dignity. Drought assistance was provided to farmers only in areas that were experiencing a one-in-20-to-25-year rainfall shortage as judged against their normal average rainfall.
The Age, 25/05/05
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