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National Rural Advisory Council
The National Rural Advisory Council (NRAC) is a skills-based independent advisory council to the Australian Government Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
NRAC was established in December 1999 as a statutory consultative body following legislative changes to the Rural Adjustment Act 1992. It replaced the Rural Adjustment Scheme Advisory Council and expanded the range of roles and functions of the original council.
NRAC advises the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry on rural issues including EC applications and extensions to EC declarations.
Assessment of EC applications
When the Australian Government receives an EC application, the Minister may refer it to NRAC for assessment if he agrees that a prima facie case has been established. As part of its assessment, NRAC may conduct an inspection tour of the affected region.
On completion of its assessment, NRAC presents its recommendations to the Minister, who has responsibility, after consulting with the Australian Government, for declaring whether or not a particular area is experiencing exceptional circumstances.
Review of EC declarations
A streamlined review process was introduced by the Australian Government to make it easier for farmers who have not experienced a break in the drought to have their EC declarations assessed for a possible extension. Under the review process, NRAC reviews EC declared areas before their expiry date to assess whether an extension to the declaration is warranted.
As part of the review, NRAC assesses information from a number of sources, including the National Agricultural Monitoring System, analyses provided by the Bureau of Rural Sciences and Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Resource Economics, State and Local Governments and local producers. Additionally NRAC may undertake an inspection tour of the area.
If NRAC assesses an area as no longer being in exceptional circumstances, and the Minister accepts the advice not to extend the declaration, assistance ceases on the date the declaration ends. If NRAC supports extending the declaration, and the Minister agrees, assistance continues until the new declaration end date.
For more information on NRAC’s role in assessing EC applications download the EC Handbook
To find out more about NRAC download the NRAC 2005-06 Annual Report 
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