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Government’s drought package to be revealed today

Drought-stricken farmers should find out what assistance they will get when the federal government reveals its drought package on Wednesday.

Cabinet was to sign off on the package late on Tuesday following weeks of waiting by farmers in Queensland and NSW, where drought conditions have been worsening.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce are expected to reveal details of the drought package to reporters on Wednesday in Canberra.

The package is intended to provide immediate assistance to farmers and will include debt relief, income support and extra social services.

However, it will be months before details of long-term agricultural reform will be released, with Prime Minister Tony Abbott vowing to wait until the release of the agriculture white paper, due by the end of the year.

The Bureau of Meteorology on Tuesday said a drier than normal autumn was expected for drought-hit central and western Queensland.

There was a 55 per cent chance of below-average rainfall for northern NSW, which is also struggling.

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