澳大利亚总理阿博特对澳洲旱灾严重地区发表的视频讲话

A Message from Prime Minister Tony Abbott to Drought-affected Regional Australia

February 15, 2014

Over the next two days I’ll be going to drought affected areas in New South Wales and Queensland to see the impact first-hand.

This hasn’t just been a dry summer, it’s been a dry couple of years.

Much of inland Queensland and inland NSW, as well as parts of Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia are experiencing very dry conditions indeed.

My first stop will be in Bourke, in north west NSW – to talk to farmers and local leaders about what’s happening on their properties and in their communities.

I’ve read the letters and emails that country people have sent me and I want to see for myself what’s needed to help our regional communities to respond to this drought because the Government response must be targeted, effective and not caught up in red tape.

I know that more needs to be done – and it will be done, in a way that’s fair and fiscally responsible.

Drought is a big hit on local economies – that’s another reason we have to get taxes down and business costs down.

It’s another reason why we’ve got to get rid of the carbon tax.

By scrapping the carbon tax we’ll get electricity and gas bills down and that’ll make life easier for families across Australia, including in drought hit areas.

I am determined to give regional Australia the support you need to face this challenge.