'We won't bankroll multi-national insurance companies'

Agriculture and Water Minister David Littleproud told the community at a drought forum in Tamworth last week, he had to "draw a line in the sand" on the issue.

Former New England MP Tony Windsor asked Mr Littleproud if he would consider subsidising farmers, or at least encourage them, to take on Multi-Peril Insurance (MPI), as a way of mitigating the impacts of climate change events.

"My family are farmers, we use Multi-Peril Insurance as a risk tool," Mr Windsor said.

"For people that don't understand this, there is a simple question I'll pose: would you forego five per cent of your average income to insure you get 50 per cent of your average income in a disaster year? - and it's not just about drought."

Mr Littleproud said while he was supportive of MPI, the government could not subsidise it.

"We can't afford to bankroll multi-national insurance companies," Mr Littleproud said.

"We've just been through a royal commission and some of those financial organisations didn't exactly cover themselves in glory.

"I'm going to look you in the eye and say, we're not going to subsidise Multi-Peril Insurance. I'd rather tell you the truth to your face then fly in here and tell you what you want to hear.

"I'm happy to support the process and encourage more people, just like we need to encourage people into farm management."

Mr Windsor suggested the government could provide some form of incentive or reward for those who "adopt best management practices, both financially and agronomically".

"The government could play a role by saying to people 'if you go down this pathway, we'll assist you'," Mr Windsor said.

"We seem to shunning the climate change debate and not address anything that could really mitigate against it." Mr Littleproud also field questions about drought-relief packages for small to medium businesses.

'No MPI subsidies: Littleproud' first appeared in the Northern Daily Leader