Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

The question that has just been posed by the member for Hunter once again demonstrates his complete lack of understanding of the policy issues that that fund is seeking to address. I announced the Future Drought Fund at the drought summit—which he attended, and we were very pleased for him to attend—and he has opposed it from the day I first announced it. On that very day he was speaking against it, and he sought to have it frustrated, even in this place.

The national drought fund, which begins with a $3.9 million investment, will, over the course of the decade, grow to $5 billion and, from 1 July next year, it will draw down $100 million to invest in water infrastructure resilience projects. That's what we said the purpose of the drought fund was. It will draw down on that investment from 1 July next year, as we put the board in place and as we seek their advice.

Mr Fitzgibbon interjecting—

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