ladbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Farmers Slam Queensland Government For Gifting Public Servants With $1,250 Taxpayer Funded Bonus

Farmers Slam Queensland Government For Gifting Public Servants With $1,250 Taxpayer Funded Bonus

The $250 million worth of bonuses could have bought 2.5 million truckloads of water.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

It's no secret that parts of Australia are dealing with a pretty horrific drought that is predicted to get worse in the coming months.

They're going to need all the help they can get from local, state and federal governments if they're to survive beyond the next few years.

But people doing it tough in Queensland are shocked after finding out the state government is planning on spending $250 million on bonuses for more than 200,000 public servants.

StephenMitchell/Creative Commons

Each staffer will be gifted with a $1,250 taxpayer-funded bonus, according to Treasurer Jackie Trad, as a method to drive economic growth.

"The Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia last month called for all levels of government to provide additional support above existing caps on wages growth to drive economic growth," she said.

The decision has been slammed by farming groups, with one alleging that money could have bought 2.5 million truckloads of much needed water.

AgForce CEO Michael Guerin said: "This decision is at best thoughtless, at worst, completely irresponsible, and shows just how out of touch the State Government has become with regional Queensland.

PA

"Is this really the right time to be handing out cash to a largely urban workforce when two thirds of the State suffers through the longest drought on record and tens of thousands of producers have their backs to the wall?"

He's accused the state government of splashing the cash as a way to get votes ahead of the election.

The Prime Minister was under similar scrutiny over the weekend after announcing $150 million would be spent on Aussie businesses and technology to help America get to the Moon and Mars.

Scott Morrison/Facebook

ScoMo released a statement on Facebook saying: "We're backing Australian businesses to the moon, and even Mars, and back! Today we signed an agreement that will see NASA and the Australian Space Agency working together.

"There is enormous opportunity for Australia's space sector, which is why we want to triple its size to $12 billion to create around 20,000 extra jobs in Australia by 2030."

The post attracted loads of praise from people happy about our friendship with the US, however there were plenty others who thought it was money that would be better spent at home.

Many encouraged the Prime Minister to look 'in your own backyard' and help out farmers who have been struggling through hot and dry conditions the past few years.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: News, Australia, politics