Labor has attacked new Prime Minister Scott Morrison for making Barnaby Joyce a special drought envoy, calling the decision a slap in the face for farmers.
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The opposition's agriculture spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon said the position would allow the former Nationals leader to campaign across Australia at public expense.
"The prime minister has failed our farmers on day two," Mr Fitzgibbon said on Monday.
"The appointment of climate change denier Barnaby Joyce as his drought envoy is a joke and a slap in the face for all in the sector who want meaningful drought policy reform."
Mr Morrison has nominated the drought as his top priority, travelling to some of the worst-affected areas in western Queensland on Monday.
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, who replaced Mr Joyce as Nationals leader earlier in the year, will be alongside drought commissioner Stephen Day and Mr Morrison in Quilpie.
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Mr McCormack said the government would contribute more money on top of the already announced $1.8 billion worth of measures to tackle the drought.
"We need to do more and we will do more," he told ABC radio.
"We're going out today to do more listening and we'll do more acting."
He is delighted Mr Joyce accepted the new role, which he says won't cut across Agriculture Minister David Littleproud's job.
"We need every resource we've got on the ground. It's all hands on deck," Mr McCormack said.
Mr Fitzgibbon said Mr Morrison had made a bad start, accusing the prime minister of using drought as a play thing to improve his image.
"To add insult to injury media reports suggest the prime minister's drought tour tomorrow is all about him rather than our drought affected farming families," he said.
Australian Associated Press
