Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Hansard source

I also wanted to indicate in my previous answer that the government is providing in the budget $1.8 million to fund additional financial counsellors, who are vital for farmers in these situations, and $250 million in the 2015-16 financial year to ensure that farmers continue to have access to the existing concessional loan schemes. As well as that, the drought coordinators from my department have done an extraordinary job over the last year or so. They understand the phenomenal pressure that is put on farmers' mental and physical health and particularly on their family relationships. We hear about this. I heard Senator O'Sullivan speaking about it earlier today in the chamber, in fact. As at the beginning of this month, our drought coordinators have travelled over 225,000 kilometres in New South Wales and Queensland, attended over 1,100 meetings and visited over 200 community events with affected community members. (Time expired)