Scott Morrison and Alan Jones in explosive interview about farmers’ drought relief

Alan Jones furiously rowed with Scott Morrison about drought relief for farmers in an explosive interview on Tuesday morning, sparking loyal voters to turn on the PM.

In one particularly heated moment, the radio host interrupted Mr Morrison and bluntly told him: ‘Oh don’t talk to me, I’m a farmer’s son and you’re not.’   

A fired-up Jones was urging the Prime Minister to do more to help farmers who cannot afford feed and water to keep livestock alive.

Alan Jones furiously rowed with Scott Morrison (pictured) about drought relief for farmers in an explosive interview on Tuesday morning, sparking loyal voters to turn on the PM

‘These people, Prime Minister, cannot survive today,’ Jones said angrily.

‘They are sending the breeding stock to the sale yard to be slaughtered, they’re walking off their farms. 

‘They need cash now. Now. Just as we gave a billion dollars to Indonesia over a tsunami. This is a drought tsunami.’

Mr Morrison explained that he couldn’t make it rain and that $318million has already helped in the past year. 

‘The direct cash grant support is going into farming communities, including directly to farmers,’ Mr Morrison said.

But Jones interrupted, saying: ‘They’re not getting it!’ 

Mr Morrison continued: ‘Alan, if you could let me finish. There’s $318.5 million…’

‘I don’t know where the money is Prime Minister,’ Jones interjected. 

As Mr Morrison tried to make his point, Jones cut in with a blunt remark: ‘Oh don’t talk to me, I’m a farmer’s son and you’re not.’ 

Jones then criticised the Farm Household Allowance scheme, which gives farmers fortnightly payments and, in some cases, lump sum payments of up to $12,000.

Jones (pictured) angrily interrupted the PM several times during the interview

Jones (pictured) angrily interrupted the PM several times during the interview

‘You say Farm Household Allowance. Now PM, come on. You go and tell Jenny that she can live on $250 a week,’ Jones said.

‘It’s not $250 a week Alan. It’s not just that,’ Mr Morrison replied.

‘If you live in the city, and your business goes bust or you lose your job, then you have access to Newstart. But if you are on a farm property and you get access to the Farm Household Allowance.’

Jones did not accept his answer and pressed the PM further by asking: ‘Why are they walking off? Why are they sending their cattle to slaughter?’

Mr Morrison then admitted he couldn’t save farmers from some hardship.

‘The government, whether it’s state, federal or anyone else, we can do a lot of things to try and help people get through this. But the government can’t make it rain, and it can’t make life as it was before the drought,’ he said.

‘We both want the same thing. We want the farmers to be able to get through this drought. But we can’t kid ourselves that there’s a magic wand and a magic cash splash that’s going to make this thing totally solved.’

At times during the interview, Jones was verging on hysteria as he repeatedly interrupted the Prime Minister and sighed and tutted when Mr Morrison spoke. 

Despite Jones’ combative stance, 2GB listeners said they were disappointed by the Prime Minister.

One said: ‘My blood’s boiling after hearing that. Complete failure as a Prime Minister. He’s arrogant. They’ve been conning the public after the election.’ 

Another added: ‘I’m a dairy farmer’s daughter. That interview should sign the end of his Prime Ministership. Just absolutely diabolical.’

An aerial view of a severely drought affected farm 40km north-east of Coonabarabran, NSW

An aerial view of a severely drought affected farm 40km north-east of Coonabarabran, NSW

The tense interview came after Mr Morrison was in Tamworth on Sunday with Premier Gladys Berejiklian to announce a $1 billion investment in dams and water infrastructure projects around New South Wales.

The 50/50 investment includes a $480million new Dungowan Dam near Tamworth, along with a a $650million upgrade of Wyangala Dam in the NSW Central West.

‘I love working with premiers that want to build dams,’ a beaming prime minister told reporters.

‘And not just say they want to do it but are actually going to do it and roll-up their sleeves and ensure that we can get these built.’

Such infrastructure will aid regional and rural communities build drought resistance into the future.

The joint venture will also help free-up NSW funding to allow progress for critical town water projects across the state.

‘We want to get these projects underway because this is about water supply and security,’ Mr Morrison said.

‘These projects don’t happen overnight but we’re working as quickly as possible to get all the necessary work done so we can start digging.’

A boat ramp leads to the drought-affected Split Rock Dam near Tamworth in rural Australia

A boat ramp leads to the drought-affected Split Rock Dam near Tamworth in rural Australia

Ms Berejiklian estimated the new dam will take about four years to build.

There will also be an initial $24 million 50/50 investment for the proposed 100,000-megalitre Border Rivers project on the Mole River, near the Queensland border.

Ms Berejiklan described the announcements as ‘historic’ given the last dam built in NSW was in 1987.

But Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese was unimpressed by such promises after six years of federal coalition governments.

‘Tony Abbott’s come and gone, Malcolm Turnbull’s come and gone, Barnaby Joyce’s come and gone, Scott Morrison’s there, they haven’t dug a hole yet,’ Mr Albanese told reporters in Sydney.

‘Well wait and see what happens.What I do know is that this government has no national drought strategy.’

The Nature Conservation Council also warned the NSW government to retain thorough assessment of water infrastructure projects to avoid ecological catastrophes, like the mass fish kills earlier this year.

‘We need thorough assessment of water infrastructure projects now more than ever to ensure we don’t make matters worse,’ the council’s chief executive Chris Gambian said in a statement.

‘The problems we are facing today are a direct result of this government refusing to listen to its own planning experts, who warned of this looming water crisis six years ago.’ 

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