Rural
5 November, 2025
$60 million to build drought resilience
QUEENSLAND’S regional communities and primary producers are set to benefit from nearly $60 million in funding over the next four years, thanks to a landmark collaboration between the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the Queensland Government.
This funding will support the delivery of two critical programs: the Regional Drought Resilience Planning (RDRP) Program and the Farm Business Resilience Program (FBRP).
More than $26 million has been jointly committed to Phase 2 of the RDRP Program over four years to support regions in delivering initiatives that build drought resilience for communities and industries.
This funding builds on the development of Regional Drought Resilience Plans across 14 Queensland regions, which proposed drought resilience projects ranging from cultivating drought-resistant crop species to combining scientific weather and land management with Traditional Owner cultural knowledge and practices.
Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Julie Collins said this funding would support communities across Queensland to build their long-term drought resilience.
“Drought is always a case of when, not if, which is why we’re working with the Queensland Government, primary producers, businesses, industry and local governments to understand the risks, priorities and actions needed to enhance resilience to future drought,” she said.
More than $33.6 million has also been jointly committed to Phase 2 of the FBRP over four years to provide tailored support and peer-to-peer learning to help primary producers plan for future business, drought, and climate risks.
Queensland Minister for Primary Industries Tony Perrett said the program promoted economic, environmental, and social resilience among farmers, land managers, graziers, and aquaculture operators.
“By making sure primary producers are better prepared when droughts inevitably strike, they can return to profitability and prosperity more quickly when the drought breaks,” he said.
The program aims to help producers boost productivity and profitability, improve decision-making and risk management, and create tailored farm business resilience plans for their businesses.
