WATERING WA INITIATIVE —
FARM WATER REBATE SCHEME GRANTS
537. Hon JACQUI BOYDELL to the minister representing the
Minister for Water:
I refer to the minister's
decision to scrap the farm water rebate scheme and the pastoral water grants
scheme at the end of 2018–19.
(1) Did the
Minister for Water consult with the minister for primary industries and
regional development prior to this decision being made?
(2) Please table
any correspondence between ministers in relation to this issue before a decision
was made.
(3) How has
notification of the cessation of the schemes been communicated to relevant
stakeholders and agriculturalists?
Hon
ALANNAH MacTIERNAN replied:
I thank the member for the question.
(1) All cabinet members participated
in the budgetary process.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) The
department has written to farm water auditors; the Department of Primary
Industries and Regional Development; the Department of Planning, Lands and
Heritage; the Rural Water Council; and the Wheatbelt Development Commission,
and it has updated its website. The department will be notifying three tank
supply companies that refer to the scheme in their advertisements and will
write to applicants with approved audits on 30 June 2018.