The Wire

The Australian Government has announced a drought relief package for farmers, who will be hit hardest by this year’s expected long hot summer. Some $350 million will be made immediately available to farmers, and cabinet is working of a total package worth $750 million. With farmers facing dire economic conditions that could force them off the land and with consumers facing food shortages, something obviously needs to be done now. But the Democrats have criticized the government for failing to make water efficiency measure part of any drought relief response, and the Greens are calling for a national water summit to ensure that long-term strategies are implemented, with climate change becoming a daily reality.