2. Compendium of Priorities and Initiatives
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Biosecurity and Quarantine
Biosecurity is an increasingly difficult and complex task, impacted by climate change, threats of agri‑terrorism and increased globalisation. The successful eradication of equine influenza in Australia — one of the few nations in the world to do so — is testament to the commitment of governments, industry and the community to maintaining our enviable animal and plant health status.
In mid 2008, the Government commissioned a comprehensive, independent review of Australia's quarantine and biosecurity chaired by Roger Beale. Its report was delivered on 30 September 2008. The Government's preliminary response, released in December 2008, agreed in‑principle to all 84 recommendations. Responding to the recommendations will depend on a number of considerations, including the outcome of negotiations with the states and territories, budget considerations, development of biosecurity legislation and discussions continuing with stakeholders during 2009 and into 2010.
Ahead of this detailed consideration, the Government will provide renewed support in 2009‑10 for quarantine border security ($132.4 million); avian influenza response measures ($15 million); Securing the Future: Protecting our Industries from Biological, Chemical and Physical Risks ($5 million); and AQIS International Mail ($3.6 million).
Drought Review
The National Review of Drought Policy — a major election commitment — is well advanced. The Government has received the three assessments that comprise the review: the climate assessment by the Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO; an expert panel's review of social impacts; and the final report of the Productivity Commission's economic assessment. The Government is examining the recommendations from all three reports to develop a drought policy that better prepares our rural and regional communities for the future.
Drought support
The Government has allocated $429.5 million in the 2009‑10 Budget Exceptional Circumstances (EC) measures to farmers and small businesses dealing with the current drought including EC Relief Payments, the EC Interest Rate Subsidy and Interim Income Support. In addition, the Government has announced a 12‑month extension for EC assistance for small businesses, the $20,000 off‑farm salary and wages exemption for EC Relief Payments and the $750,000 off‑farm asset exemption for the EC Interest Rate Subsidy. The Government also continues to support farmers through providing professional advice and training grants and re‑establishment assistance for those who choose to exit farming, providing $52.3 million in 2009‑10.
Australia's Farming Future
Australia's Farming Future is the Government's climate change initiative for primary industries. It provides around $130 million from 2008‑09 to 2011‑12 towards research, development, training, and adjustment advice.
Climate Change Research Program
The $46.2 million Climate Change Research Program is helping primary producers prepare for climate change, with important work being done in the priority areas of soil carbon, livestock emissions and nitrous oxide, and adapting to a changing climate.
In 2008‑09, the Government committed $25.5 million, leveraging $37.6 million from partners, including state government, industry and research organisations, for projects addressing nitrous oxide and methane emissions and investigating the potential of soil to sequester carbon.
Adjustment support
The Government is providing support to eligible primary producers to access re‑establishment grants of up to $150,000, targeted professional advice and training of up to $5,500, and transitional income support. Transitional Income Support (for up to 12 months at the Newstart Allowance rate) is available to eligible producers who apply before 30 June 2010. Eligible producers may access up to a maximum of 12 months of support.
FarmReady
The Government has allocated $26.5 million from 2008‑09 to 2011‑12 to boost training opportunities for primary producers, and to enable industry, farming groups and natural resource management groups to develop strategies to adapt and respond to the impacts of climate change. In May 2009, the Government agreed to the first round of FarmReady industry grants, providing $6.27 million for 46 projects.
Community Networks and Capacity Building Program
The four year Community Networks and Capacity Building component of Australia's Farming Future commenced in 2008‑09. It targets youth, women, Indigenous Australians and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The Government has provided $350,000 to the Northern Territory Cattlemen's Association to support a pilot project over 2008‑09 and 2009‑10. The project will investigate options to increase long‑term employment opportunities for Indigenous people in the Northern Territory pastoral industry.
The Government is actively supporting rural women's leadership by sponsoring the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation's 2009 National Rural Women's Award and 10 Year Reunion Forum, as well as providing $304,000 to fund the National Rural Women's Summit in June 2008. The Recognising Women Farmers and the Next Gen Farmers grants opened in January 2009.
Climate change action plans
The Government continues to work closely with industry organisations, research organisations, and state and territory governments to implement a coordinated response to climate change. The Government has implemented projects under the National Agriculture and Climate Change Action Plan and is progressing the fisheries and forestry action plans.
Rural Research and Development Council
The 10‑member independent skills‑based Rural Research and Development Council held its first meeting in February 2009, fulfilling a key election commitment. The council's initial task is to develop a national strategic investment plan to strengthen rural research and development through improved multi‑sector coordination, prioritisation of investment and performance reporting.
Initiatives for rural food producers
In 2008‑09, regional food programs worth $40 million over four years began. The programs are designed to promote modern, competitive food production industries in Australia. The Regional Food Producers Innovation and Productivity Program funds projects to boost the productivity of Australia's food industry.
The Promoting Australian Produce Program helps food industries develop the capacity to better market their produce to both traditional domestic markets and new export markets. The Promoting Australian Produce (Major Events) Program is helping food and fibre industries to stage major national events that facilitate exchange of information and boost productivity through improved efficiency along the value chain, innovation and adoption of new technologies and management practices.
Food security
The government recognises the need for the Australian and international community to address global food security, given the threats to the lives and health of millions of people resulting from increases in food prices. The global food security challenge must be addressed by boosting research and development, helping to remove barriers to global trade and driving productivity along the food production chain.
The government will continue to promote Australia's important role in facilitating long‑term solutions through the production of more food whilst building agricultural capacity in developing countries. Concluding the Doha Round of trade negotiations will help to address global food security by reducing distortions to global food markets. Australia used it's attendance at the recent G8+ meeting of world agriculture ministers to demonstrate the major role it can play in combating the global food shortage and boosting global food security.
Wheat marketing
Growers are choosing who exports their wheat for the first time in 60 years under the Australian Government's reform of Australia's export wheat marketing system, which commenced on 1 July 2008. The reforms led to the establishment of Wheat Exports Australia to administer an accreditation scheme for bulk wheat exports. More than 20 companies have been accredited so far; more than 15 of those companies are already making bulk shipments to a variety of markets.
The Government previously committed up to $9.4 million for a transitional assistance program to help producers adjust to the largest reforms to the bulk wheat export marketing system in six decades. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is receiving $1.5 million to work with bulk wheat handling companies to ensure that there is fair and reasonable port access to other accredited exporters.
Live animal trade
The Government will form an enhanced partnership with the livestock export sector through the Live Trade Animal Welfare Partnership. This partnership will deliver a three‑year $3.2 million program to continue to improve the handling of live animals in importing countries and support the growth in this trade.
Gippsland Lakes and Lakes Entrance
The Government is delivering on its $11 million three‑year election commitment to improve commercial fishing industry infrastructure and water quality and flood mitigation in the Gippsland Lakes region, with funding flowing to the $2.25 million project addressing nutrients in wetlands and flood mitigation in Eastern Creek and to the $3 million project to enhance the Gippsland Lakes. In addition, it is investing $5.75 million in facilities at Cunninghame Arm Quay and in constructing a new ice works and deepwater wharf at the Lakes Entrance Fishermen's Cooperative.
Australian Weeds Research Centre
The Government is delivering on its $15 million election commitment. In 2008, it established the Australian Weeds Research Centre. In January 2009, it announced funding of $2.5 million towards 28 weeds research projects to be funded through the centre. The centre will also undertake a comprehensive fireweed research program worth $300,000 over two years.
Forestry Initiatives
The Government continues to deliver on its election commitment to invest $20 million to support sustainable forest industries.
The three‑year Australia's Forest Industry — Preparing for the Future includes:
- $9 million for the Forest Industries Development Fund to provide grants to help boost the industry's international competitiveness. In the first round, 10 projects have been offered a total of $4.6 million in grants to help increase the international competitiveness of Australia's forest products. The second round will open later this year
- $8 million to identify and address major knowledge gaps about the impacts of climate change on forestry
- $1 million to work with regional governments and industries to address issues associated with the illegal harvesting of timber
- $1 million for the establishment of the Forest and Forest Products Industry Skills Council. This is in addition to more than $7 million from the Government's Industry Skills Council funding program to assist in training skilled forestry workers. The Skills Council has been established and is now in operation
- $1 million towards updating and expanding the forestry industry database to meet future information needs.
Recreational Fishing Industry Development
In 2008, the Government announced $2 million over three years to review the 1994 national Recreational Fishing Policy and to develop and implement a Recreational Fishing Industry Development Strategy. The Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee has been established to advise on those matters.
Fisheries Research Program
The Government has increased its investment in policy‑related fisheries research by $4.4 million to provide a total of $17 million over four years to ensure Commonwealth fisheries are profitable and managed sustainably in the future.
National Fruit Fly Strategy
The draft National Fruit Fly Strategy was released in November 2008. Key elements of the strategy are being implemented under the Government's Quarantine Research and Preparedness Plan. The Government will provide $5.4 million over four years from 2008 to 2011, towards the strategy and related activities. To date, $2.3 million has been invested in activities that contribute towards implementation, diagnostic tools, and guidelines for biosecurity planning. The balance of the commitment will be used to complete these initiatives by 2011.
Primary Industries Education
The Government is encouraging young people to learn about our primary industries and consider a career in this field through its $175,000 support for the Primary Industries Education Foundation and its $5,000 contribution to a Career in Agriculture Expo held at this year's Sydney Royal Easter Show.
Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in Agriculture
Australians aged 18 to 35 who work or study in primary industries will be able to apply under a national awards program aimed at encouraging innovation in the rural sector. The Government and industry will jointly award $290,000 for 13 winners to explore, over 12 months, an emerging scientific issue.
Further information
Further information about these and other agriculture, fisheries and forestry initiatives relating to rural and regional Australia is available at www.daff.gov.au.
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