According to Australia’s agriculture minister Warren Truss, another 600 farmers have been granted access to the country’s federal drought relief scheme.

The farmers, from Queensland's Sunshine Coast, will receive the aid under the Exceptional Circumstances (EC) package. The scheme will cover farmers from Tiaro, Cooloola, Kilcoy, Noosa, Maroochy, Caloundra and Caboolture, plus a 7km buffer zone around them.

Farmers will be able to apply for interest rate subsidies of up to A$100,000 a year and have access to state welfare.

Mr Truss said at this stage the EC declaration only covered livestock farmers.

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