Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Sterle for his supplementary question. This government was proud to announce in the budget that Caring for our Country would be committed for another five years, securing $2.2 billion in funding from 2013-14 right through to 2017-18. This takes the total funding allocated by this government since July 2008 to over $4.2 billion. This commitment by the Gillard Labor government to continue this program for another five years means that work will continue to be carried out by farming communities to manage and protect our natural environment. It provides certainty to the sector. It is good news for farmers, good news for land managers and good news for the environment. This funding will deliver, for Landcare groups, sustainable agricultural innovation, weeds and pest eradication and management, as well as the regional delivery of better practices that will protect our natural resources for food production for future generations. (Time expired)