Labor calls for audit of government's claimed $7bn drought package

Joel Fitzgibbon says Coalition's drought funding has been 'ad hoc, confusing and lacking in direction'

Labor has asked the auditor general to investigate the government's claimed $7bn in drought assistance, saying the response has been "ad hoc, confusing and lacking in direction".

As the government defends the roll-out of its drought package, which saw one regional council receive $1m in taxpayer support despite enjoying good rainfall, Labor's shadow agriculture minister, Joel Fitzgibbon, has written to the auditor general, Grant Hehir, requesting a full audit.