Opposition says the lack of a final report from Scott Morrison’s special envoy shows the process has been a ‘joke’

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

Labor has lashed Barnaby Joyce for failing to produce a report on the drought after he was made special envoy for assistance and recovery by the prime minister, Scott Morrison.

The shadow agriculture minister, Joel Fitzgibbon, who sought details of any report completed by Joyce through a production of documents order in parliament, said that the lack of a final report from the former Nationals leader showed the process had been a “joke”.

Labor is also criticising the Coalition for not releasing a report undertaken by the coordinator general for drought, Major General Stephen Day, which has been delivered to the government, but remains the subject of cabinet deliberations.

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“When Barnaby Joyce was appointed special envoy for drought in August 2018, I called it a ‘slap in the face’ for farmers, and that’s exactly what it has been,” Fitzgibbon told Guardian Australia.

“Now we find out that the special envoy has not written a report on his role. The question is, what benefit did taxpayers receive as a result of the drought envoy’s additional staff and travel resources they paid for? We now know the answer is none.”

A spokesperson for the prime minister’s office said that a written report was never part of the terms of reference surrounding the appointment, saying the government had a “comprehensive $7bn plan to respond to the ongoing challenge of drought in Australia”.

“As the special envoy for drought assistance and recovery Mr Joyce was focused on getting into communities and talking to farmers in drought,” the spokesperson said.

“Mr Joyce met with the prime minister a number of times to discuss his findings and he also presented these findings to the cabinet.”

It is understood that Joyce had input into the extension of the drought communities program, and the decision to boost investment in more rural financial councillors in drought areas and programs to tackle pests and weeds.

It was estimated that the extra staff assigned to Joyce in the role cost taxpayers more than $200,000.

Fitzgibbon had asked the drought minister, David Littleproud, to produce to parliament the drought envoy and drought coordinator’s report, pointing to previous comments from the minister that “taxpayers paid for this report and they have a right to see what it says”.

“So why won’t the government follow its own advice and release the report of the drought coordinator? What does the government have to hide from our farmers and the broader Australian community?”

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In response to Labor’s order for documents in the Senate, Littleproud said the report was still subject to cabinet deliberations, but may be released at a “later date”.

“The government’s considerations will address Major General Day’s advice along with other short-term and long-term options to support drought-affected farmers and communities”.

He also said the government was concerned about deteriorating drought conditions across the country.

“The short-term outlook is not good, with rainfall deficiencies and warmer than average temperatures forecast for much of Australia over the next three months,” he said.

In response to the request for the Joyce report, Littleproud said: “The request for the former special envoy for drought assistance and recovery’s report cannot be complied with as he did not prepare a final report and as such, no document exists.”