Resources dig deep for rural communities

QUEENSLAND’s resources sector has dug deep to get behind farming communities affected by the drought with total contributions of $800,700 to several drought relief organisations said the Queensland Resources Council (QRC).

QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said all droughts cause extreme hardship on farmers which can last for many years.

“As a former farmer I know how devasting a drought is to people’s livelihoods and the pain has a lasting impact on regional communities including local shops and suppliers,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“As two primary industries, resources and agriculture have a long and proud history of working together. The CSG industry has formed co-existence agreements with landholders delivering around $400 million in payments.”

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development Mark Furner said contributions from the resources sector had made a tangible difference to producers during the drought.

“These generous donations have a bigger impact than you might think, because when our farmers are supported the communities where they employ people also do better,” Mr Furner said.

“Businesses in the resources sector have certainly led the way, and it’s not too late for other businesses to follow their example and support the Queensland Drought Appeal.”

Mr Macfarlane said the resources sector has also played its part by building infrastructure which farmers use to service their farms and farmers have swapped the Akubra for a hard hat to work in mines delivering skills to the sector.

“It’s important for the resources sector to help out regional communities with many of our own projects operating nearby,” Mr Macfarlane said

“The largest combined donation of more than half a million ($507,500) was given to the Queensland Drought Appeal which was passed onto the Queensland Country Women’s Association (QCWA).”

The Queensland Drought Appeal was launched by the Queensland Government with an initial $100,000 contribution from the Government in August.

Full list of contributions:

• Origin Energy: $100k to ‘Drought Angels’ plus $57,500 in matched employee donations (through the Origin Foundation) to Rural Aid's ‘Buy a Bale’ campaign
• Santos: $129,500k - $75k Drought Appeal plus $41k from cattle sale proceeds $13,500 matched staff donations
• Shell: $117k Drought Appeal (17k matched staff donations)
• Adani Australia $111k
• Rio Tinto: $100k Drought Appeal
• New Hope: $50k to Aussie Helpers
• QAL: $35k worth of hay to Rural Aid
• Idemitsu Australia and Ensham Resources $20k Drought Appeal
• South32: $20k Drought Appeal
• Evolution: $15k (plus $1500 fuel to local transport provider to deliver hay)
• Peabody: $12k ($5k Aussie Helpers, $5k Buy a Bale, $2k drought relief fundraiser)
• Arrow Energy: $10k towards feed for livestock & $2200 Drought Angels
• APLNG: $10k Drought Appeal
• Hasting Deerings: 10k to Buy-a-Bale (split 5k in matched employee donations)

Total contribution: $800,700.

www qrc.org.au

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