Newly sworn-in Prime Minister Scott Morrison is taking action to deal with Australia’s worsening drought conditions, just a day after taking the top spot.
Mr Morrison met with national drought coordinator Major General Stephen Day, and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack on Saturday in Canberra, to highlight is focus on a drought fix.
The action comes as Sydney and parts of New South Wales have been gifted with their first rainfall in months.
Newly sworn-in Prime Minister Scott Morrison (middle) met with national drought coordinator Major General Stephen Day (left) and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack (right)
The action comes as Sydney and parts of New South Wales have been gifted with their first rainfall in months
It’s the wettest the state has been in a long time, but according to the Bureau of Meteorology, it isn’t going to make even a dent in the rain deficits affecting the state.
The state’s north is expected to collect the most rain over the course of the weekend, with Tamworth looking at receiving 45 millimeters – the most the city would have seen since October last year.
Australia’s east coast was told to brace for a month’s worth of rain over two days, as heavy showers and thunderstorms hit parts of NSW and Queensland’s coast.
‘Some parts of NSW will get their best rain in about six months or more,’ meteorologist Brett Dutschke told Daily Mail Australia.
‘But a good chunk of far western NSW will get no worthwhile rain at all.’
Meteorologist from the Bureau of Meteorology, Dr Adam Morgan, said that while the rain is welcome, it’s not going to fix the drought.
Prime Minister Morrison has plans to visit drought-stricken Queensland next week in his first official visit as Australian Prime Minister.
‘I’m not pretending to know one end of a sheep from another,’ Mr Morrison said.
It’s the wettest the state has been in months, but it isn’t going to make a dent in the drought
Prime Minister Morrison has plans to visit drought-stricken Queensland next week in his first official visit as Australian Prime Minister
‘But I do know people are hurting in the country, and they have been hurting terribly.’
Mr Morrison acknowledged the one-week-old appointment of Major General Day by his predecessor Malcolm Turnbull.
He also made note that defeating the drought will require bringing together resources of government at all levels.
‘Another major general once told me don’t rush to failure, and I think it’s important we listen, we plan, we coordinate and we respond,’ Mr Morrison said, looking to Major General Day.
‘I’m up to the challenge,’ the major general responded.
‘Dealing with the drought is a team sport. I’m glad to be on the team.’
Labor welcomed Mr Morrison prioritising drought as ‘good news,’ but said the role of climate change needed to be acknowledged.
Australia has been gripped by the most intense droughts of the last 100 years, and farmers are struggling to make ends mee
The state’s north is expected to collect the most rain over the course of the weekend
Sydney has received only 1.4mm of rain in the entire month of August, a large decline from the average rainfall, usually sitting at 55mm.
Australia has been gripped by the most intense droughts of the last 100 years, and farmers are struggling to make ends meet.
Some farmers are spending tens of thousands of dollars per truckload of hay just to feed their animals.
With food for livestock fast running out, farmers have been forced to resort to drastic measures, such as shooting their stock.
Sydney has received only 1.4mm of rain in the entire month of August, a large decline from the average rainfall, usually sitting at 55mm