Mr O'KEEFE —My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Energy. While we are speaking of small businesses, yesterday I attended a meeting of 700 Gippsland dairy farmers who passed a motion of no confidence in your state counterpart, the Victorian National Party Deputy Leader, Pat McNamara. On ABC radio this morning, Mr McNamara said that he had submitted to you his government's application for an exceptional circumstances drought relief application for the Gippsland area. Can the minister confirm that he has received that application? If so, when will the government respond to that request?

Mr ANDERSON —I thank the honourable member for his question and would say at the outset that none of us in this place enjoy drought or the impact that it has on rural communities, on farmers, on their land, on their livestock. For that matter, the Treasurer and others do not enjoy the impact that it has on the national accounts. So none of us rejoice in seeing what some farmers go through from time to time. I know that people in the East Gippsland area are feeling considerably upset at the moment about the circumstances that are now descending upon them in what is normally a very safe area from a rainfall point of view. I visited them last Saturday, spent some time with them and heard, anecdotally, their feelings. The observations that they wanted to make to me were put over in a lengthy discussion around a table in Moe.

This government has been concerned to ensure that we do what we can for people affected by drought. In fact, we have found another $170 million since coming to office for drought assistance. We have doubled the recovery period for people affected from six months to 12 months. We have looked at the eligibility criteria to improve both the understanding of regionality and of effective rain fall. As a result of that, I can say that there are many more drought affected farmers receiving considerably more aid under us than ever did under the arrangements that Labor had in place.

In relation to your specific concerns in relation to Gippsland, I can confirm that I have received an application from the Victorian government for consideration of the particular circumstances that apply there. I am expecting to receive further supporting evidence. In fact, I understand it was coming in as I left my office today. The government will consider that in due course.