The State Opposition has introduced the Drought Response Bill 2025 to Parliament, calling time on the Malinauskas Labor Government’s failure to act on South Australia's worsening drought crisis.
The Bill aims to establish a framework for drought response and recovery in South Australia, including the appointment of an independent Drought Response Coordinator upon declaration of a drought, and the creation of streamlined, accountable mechanisms to deliver urgent relief to affected communities.
Leader of the Opposition, Vincent Tarzia, said this legislation fills the void left by the inaction of the Labor Government.
“The drought response from Labor has been ineffective at best and harmful at worst, with farmers struggling to navigate the mountains of red tape required to access miserly funding,” Mr Tarzia said.
“We’ve heard their frustration at having requests for help met with delays and complicated application processes that take months to be approved.
“This legislation allows for sensible measures that will deliver help more effectively to those who need it most, when they need it.”
Shadow Minister for Primary Industries, Hon Nicola Centofanti MLC, will introduce the legislation in direct response to the Labor Government’s continued refusal to declare the drought a State Emergency, despite the worsening conditions and heartbreaking stories emerging daily from regional South Australia.
“This drought is crippling families, businesses, and entire communities and yet the Labor Government still refuses to act,” Dr Centofanti said.
“What farmers need is not spin or long-term resilience programs, they need action and support now. They need a government that is willing to call this what it is, a crisis.”
“If the current legislation doesn’t include this situation, then we need to change the legislation, not leave farmers out in the cold.”
The Liberal Party’s proposed legislation will give the Minister the ability to declare a drought based on clear, transparent criteria.
This declaration would trigger the appointment of a Drought Response Coordinator to assess, coordinate, and deliver tailored support in drought-declared areas.
The legislation also establishes a State Drought Response and Recovery Fund which delivers funding for essential relief measures such as freight subsidies for feed and water, no and low-interest concessional loans, mental health and community wellbeing services, and reimbursement of government fees and charges.
Dr Centofanti said the Bill is designed to ensure drought response is no longer subject to political whim or bureaucratic delay.
“The current system is broken, with banks, the Australian Tax Office and other agencies sitting on their hands because there’s no formal declaration,” Dr Centofanti said.
“Even the Federal Government has acknowledged the need for urgent, practical support, but in South Australia, farmers are being left behind.
The Liberal Party is calling on all parties to support the Bill and prioritise its passage through Parliament without delay.
