From the Minister
It’s been a particularly busy few months in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry portfolio. Parliament has now passed legislation to overhaul the bulk wheat export marketing system. The draft Bill was subject to months of consultation and numerous amendments. The government listened to feedback from the Senate Inquiry, the Independent Expert Group and comments on the draft exposure bill in shaping the final legislation.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry had a vital role in providing strategic advice on the reforms and briefing stakeholders throughout the process and I thank the team for their work.
This is one of the Rudd government’s key economic reforms and gives farmers certainty as they plant their winter crop. The new system will give wheat growers a choice of selling their wheat through a pool or through another accredited buyer. For the last 60 years, farmers have not had that choice.
We have made progress on forestry issues, including agreeing to establish a working group with China to develop a Memorandum of Understanding to fight illegal logging.
The conversion of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority from a statutory authority to a commission continues. Fishing issues, including illegal fishing, were high on the agenda during a recent visit to the Torres Strait, which included a bilateral meeting with Papua New Guinean Minister for Fisheries the Hon. Ben Semri MP.
The release of the report from the Callinan Inquiry into last year’s horse flu outbreak was another important development. As I had committed, the report was released in full with the government’s response in mid-June. The Secretary of the department, Dr Conall O’Connell, will continue to help oversee our plans to implement each of the 38 recommendations.
As the report acknowledges, the Rudd government’s independent review of Australia’s quarantine and biosecurity arrangements headed by Roger Beale AO is well underway. This review will be critical as we prepare for the challenges of climate change and a shrinking world and the increased threat of pests and diseases.
Secondly, these challenges will also be addressed through the new $130 million Australia’s Farming Future initiative, which will be funded over four years from 2008-09. This program includes $60 million to improve on-farm preparedness, $15 million to boost research on managing emissions and adaptation, and $55 million to provide primary producers with professional advice, training and re-establishment grants.
Thirdly, the review of our drought policy is underway, to ensure drought assistance meets the needs of our farmers in a changing climate. The review is looking at three aspects of drought policy—an economic assessment of drought support measures, the social impacts of drought, and future climate patterns. I am expecting advice from the CSIRO and Bureau of Metrology in the next month and more later in the year.
We will also continue meeting the challenges and opportunities of a shrinking world through international trade and improved market access for our high quality agriculture, fisheries and forestry products. My recent visit to key Asia markets, accompanied by a trade delegation, was an important step in this process.
I appreciate the hard work of all the staff in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and acknowledge that the restructure process has been difficult for many staff. I believe the new structure leaves the department in a better position to meet its key priorities and help to position agriculture, fisheries and forestry for the future challenges of climate change and boosting agricultural productivity.
No doubt the second half of the year will also be very busy, but the work is already paying off. We will continue to deliver real benefits for our primary producers.
Sincerely,
Tony Burke
Minister for Agriculture,
Fisheries and Forestry