WEEKLY BULLETIN

CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION RESEARCH PLAN IN FOCUS

In the past week QFF has developed a submission to a critical investment plan set to guide research into climate change adaptation. The National Adaptation Research Plan – Primary Industries, was developed by the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF). This facility is a national interdisciplinary effort to generate the information needed by decision-makers in government and in vulnerable sectors and communities to manage the risks of climate change impacts. The National Adaptation Research Plans are an important tool for coordinating climate change adaptation research across Australia. The plans identify critical gaps in the information available to decision-makers, set national research priorities, and identify science capacity that could be harnessed to conduct priority research. The draft primary industries plan has been drafted by a group of scientists who are now charged with the task of reviewing submissions and completing the plan which will guide investment into adaptation for the sector. The QFF submission focused on the need to have farmers’ central to the research process on this issue, to ensure that climate change adaptation work was funded with the farmer as the on ground decision maker in mind. QFF also made the point that investments should build on the existing strong credentials of Australia’s farmers in dealing with a highly variable and changing climate and to focus on what can be pragmatically done in the farming system to deal with this complex issue.

MORE DETAIL ON COMMONWEALTH BUY BACK WATER IN THE LOWER BALONNE

Minister for Water Penny Wong announced last week a $100 million water purchase tender in the Lower Balonne to start on March 22 and close on April 16. This confirms the Commonwealth’s interest in this area now that the resource operations plan is being finalised by the State Government. Minister Wong’s announcement identifies that the buyback is planned to deliver water to key environmental assets such as the Culgoa Floodplain and the Ramsar-listed Narran Lakes. The Queensland Government has introduced legislation into the Parliament that will finalise the Resource Operations Plan (ROP) governing the Lower Balonne. Minister Robertson advised this week that the ROP would be implemented on April 6 which will allow the Commonwealth to start purchasing water allocations. Copies of the guidelines and the application form for irrigators willing to sell their water will be available atwww.environment.gov.au/waterpurchasing from March 22.

WET TROPICS WATER RESOURCE PLAN

An Information Report released by the Department of Environment and Resource Management recently, gives some insight into some of the significant issues that will have to be addressed in the preparation of a water resource plan for the Wet Tropics over the next 12 to 18 months. Minister Robertson’s introduction to the report warns that extraction from surface water and groundwater in some parts of the Wet Tropics plan area during the dry season could be approaching limits of sustainability. For this reason comments later in the report indicate that the draft plan will have to address the management of growth in water access from both surface and groundwater sources. Environmental water needs will also have a priority as the Plan covers an area that includes the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, Wetlands of National Importance and seven major catchments that flowing into the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. There has also been significant bore development to supplement surface water supplies particularly during drier winter and spring months. Many of the groundwater areas are not subject to any management at this stage so it is expected that the draft plan will pay particular attention to setting sustainable development limits for these areas so that licensing and metering of groundwater extraction can proceed. The report highlights that the management of irrigation associated with dairying and growing of bananas and other tropical fruits will be a priority in the Johnstone, Tully, Murray and to a lesser extent Herbert catchments. Cane farmers and graziers in the plan area are not as dependent on irrigation. Farmers that are dependent on irrigation across the plan area will be keen to confirm their existing rights of access to water, particularly in the areas where entitlements are area based and where access to groundwater has not been regulated. They are concerned however that this will not be achieved until the water resource plan is completed and there is sufficient understanding on farm use of water to prepare a resource operations plan to define entitlements to surface and groundwater. A copy of the Information Report can be obtained here.

FARMERS URGED TO BE SAFE IN FLOOD AND STORM CLEAN-UP

Rural workers have been urged to take special care in cleaning up as flood waters continue to fall in some areas and rise in others. Farmsafe Queensland Executive Director Jamie Cupples said the floods highlighted unique workplace hazards that posed risks to worker safety during the big clean up. “Many people do not realise that cleaning up after a major flood has its own risks, especially in the bush,” Mr Cupples said. “Apart from the discomfort of mosquitoes and sandflies in plague proportions, rural workers face an increased risk from snakes and spiders, and having cuts and abrasions infected with water or flood debris and soil which may have had contaminants soaked into them. Employers have an obligation to ensure that their workers are made aware of the hazards associated with the jobs in the rural workplace over the coming months, as the clean-up and rebuilding of properties and infrastructure gets underway.”

SW FLOOD RECOVERY EFFORTS UNDERWAY AS YET ANOTHER NATURAL DISASTER HITS

QFF President Gary Sansom has reported in from a tour of flood affected communities across South West Queensland. Mr Sansom joined a delegation headed by the Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland, Tim Mulherin. The delegation visited Windorah, Quilpie, Thargomindah and Charleville on Sunday, and went to Cunnamulla, St George and Roma on Monday. In St George, Gary, the Minister and senior officials from the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation met with Ms Joanne Grainger the Chairman of Cotton Australia and local cotton industry representatives, to discuss the impact of the floods and the industry requirements for insuring a speedy recovery. Gary has reported that while local farmers are exceptionally busy trying to finish, harvest and transport this year’s cotton crop, they are also looking towards a rapid repair of earth works in order to prepare for future seasons. However, to achieve both of these outcomes an immediate investment into the repair of road infrastructure is a priority. Gary has urged producers in the area who may require assistance to call the QRAA free call number on 1800 623 946 to find out what help may be available in their particular circumstances. Meanwhile QFF is working with our member bodies, CANEGROWERS, Qld Dairyfarmers’ Organisation and Growcom to assess the impact of cyclone Ului. It is already apparent that the heavy rain has caused damage to crops and reduced the capacity with respect to milk production. While it may be some time before farmers can get access to their fields to check the full damage, it is clear that cane crops in the region have seen hit hard by the strong winds and rising flood water. For now, while people in the region attempt to assess the damage the lack of power and telecommunication services in the region is the immediate priority.

MEMBER NEWS

AUSTRALIAN CERTIFIED ORGANIC RECEIVES NATIONAL AWARD

Australian Certified Organic (ACO), subsidiary company of the Biological Farmers of Australia (BFA), has been honoured by another premier national organisation. Consumer watchdog Choice magazine awarded ACO the prestigious award for Australia’s Best Food Endorsement Program. Nominees for the award, one of six categories marking Choice’s 50th birthday, were determined by Choice. Judging was carried out by a panel of experts against stringent criteria. ACO was judged on transparency, consumer friendliness, freedom from conflict of interest, stakeholder engagement, equitable participation and label verification.

GROWCOM MAKES GROWERS AWARE OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE WORKERS ON THEIR PROPERTIES – EVEN WHEN PROVIDED BY LABOUR HIRE COMPANIES

It may be an unpalatable truth but ultimately horticulture growers are responsible for the rates of pay and immigration status of the workers on their properties, regardless of whether they use a labour hire company or not, Growcom has reminded growers. Speaking in response to reports of Department of Immigration raids on growers’ properties to check immigration status and pay rates, Growcom has reminded growers that the law specified that the onus is ultimately on the grower to ensure that workers are paid properly and are entitled to work in Australia – even where growers use labour hire companies to find workers for them. The timely warning comes as the Immigration Department and Fair Work Australia are now prosecuting growers for employing illegal workers or underpaying workers, even when the workers are employed through a Labour Hire Company (LHC).