QFF WATER POLICY COMMITTEE MEETS
The Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) Water Policy Committee met last week and identified a number of priority issues that needed to be fully examined before investigations can begin to determine new prices for irrigation schemes across the state by July 2011. Most of the priorities had already been identified when the current price path was set in 2006, however the State Government has taken no action over the past five years to address these issues. Members were very concerned that if a rate of return on scheme assets is applied this time, costs of irrigation supply could rise significantly.
Questions were raised about the competitive position of Queensland irrigation schemes if policies in regard to rate of return are not consistently applied across all states. The Committee also discussed the difficulties involved in effectively addressing the impact of rates of return on schemes and how schemes that could not afford to pay could adjust to cope with price reforms into the future. Other priority issues discussed included efficiencies that could be achieved in the implementation of water reform regulation in schemes and the assessment of conversions to allocate scheme costs between the urban and rural sectors.
Other priority issues for the Committee included policy changes in the Murray Darling that may affect the way stock, domestic use and other issues are addressed in future water planning and the lack of progress in regard to buyback and water use efficiency programs in the Queensland Murray Darling catchments. Progress with the reviews of the water resource plans was examined and in particular the Committee discussed issues for different industries with the announcement of the moratorium in the Wet Tropics and the expected announcement of the water resource plans for this area. The Committee also discussed a forward program of meetings, some in regional areas in expectation of a busy year for the implementation of water reforms in all parts of the state.

NATURAL DISASTER HELP FOR COUNCILS, BUT NOT INDIVIDUALS
Heavy rains and flooding since late December 2009 has resulted in a total of 46 local government areas across a wide area of Queensland being declared eligible for National Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA). This week the Emergency Services Minister added nine Councils following Cyclone Olga’s impact across northern and western communities. These announcements allow affected councils to access funding to rebuild damaged public infrastructure and essential public assets, but so far there has been no apparent need to extend the NDRRA to cover personal hardship, although this aspect will continue to be monitored.

ABARE 2010 CONFERENCE – WHAT WILL BE THE OUTLOOK FOR AUSTRALIA?
The 2010 ABARE Outlook Conference will be held on March 2 and 3 in Canberra. With the recent economic challenges faced by Australia and the world, the focus of the Conference will question the outlook for Australia. Industry stakeholders from around Australia are encouraged to attend and explore the issues for Australia’s agriculture, fisheries, forestry and natural resource sectors. Keynote sessions include an economic overview with Murilo Portugal of the IMF and Bill Evans of Westpac, future directions for trade with Robert Thompson, from the University of Illinois, plus sessions on farm performance, climate change, water and irrigation and key commodities. For more information go to www.abare.gov.au/outlook.

RURAL R&D INVESTMENT PLAN
The Rural R&D Council is seeking stakeholder feedback on where monies need to be spent to increase the productivity of Australia’s food, fibre and foliage sectors and to increase Australia’s capacity to move the outputs of those sectors. While this focus to some extent reflects Minister Burke’s priorities as outlined in his National Press Club address “Food: Making it and moving it” last month, it is an important exercise to review funding priorities in the face of new challenges such as skills shortages, climate risks and international food security pressures. The Council has supplied three briefing papers that can be accessed here and seeks online responses to a brief survey by February 19 so that results can be summarised, presented and discussed at ABARE’s outlook conference in early March.

MEMBER NEWS

FORECAST OF INCREASED POPULATION: NATIONAL FOOD POLICY SHOULD BE PART OF THE MIX
Peak horticulture organisation Growcom last week called for a national food security policy in light of the release of the 2010 Intergenerational Report which predicts an increase in Australia’s population by 2050 to more than 36 million of which 22 per cent will be over 65 years old. Chief Executive Officer Alex Livingstone said that the Government’s response to problems outlined in the report had ignored a key requirement - that a larger population will need to be fed. “There is no national plan in place to guarantee that arable land with suitable water and climatic requirements and adequate infrastructure will be available in the future to guarantee our food supply,” Mr Livingstone said. He added the Government’s determination to put in place measures to lift productivity in order to grow the economy was admirable but ignored a key consideration of investing in infrastructure that would ensure the population had access to economical, fresh and healthy food supplies.

NEW EMPLOYMENT LAWS FOR DAIRY FARMERS IN QUEENSLAND
The Queensland Dairyfarmers’ Organisation has recently mailed to all members an information pack in regards to the new employment laws for dairy farmers in Queensland. The pack includes the following;
• Queensland Dairy Pastoral Industry Award 2010 briefing note,
• NFF Fair Work Info Booklet for Agricultural Producers, including the National Employment Standards,
• NFF Fair Work Fact Sheet,
• Copy of the Pastoral Industry Award 2010,
• TPID Contractor Test Kit,
• Fair Work Information Statement.
The QDO is also working to establish an advisory service for members. For information go to www.nff.org.au and also to the Dairy Australia’s program The People in Dairy website, www.thepeopleindairy.org.au.

BACKGROUND BRIEFING ON NEW COTTON PASTORAL AWARD NOW AVAILABLE
Following the introduction of a new Pastoral Award on the January 1 this year, Cotton Australia has prepared a Background Briefing document to give growers and cotton industry employers an overview of how the changes will affect farm businesses.
The Cotton Workplace Award Background Briefing details:
• Basic overview and context
• Timetable for implementation
• Implications for cotton growers
• Rates of pay
• Options for cotton growers and harvesters
• Cotton Australia’s involvement
• Useful contacts and further information
For more information, go to www.cotton.org.au.

OTHER NEWS

COALITION CLIMATE POLICY PRINCIPLES FOR FARMERS ENCOURAGING
THE National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) last week welcomed the general principles outlined in the Coalition’s climate change mitigation policy as it relates to the farm sector. In a statement released last week, the NFF said that while highlighting that many questions still remain about the policy details and how it will be implemented, the NFF is buoyed by the recognition of the positive role that farmers can play in reducing greenhouse gas concentrations and storing carbon. “The NFF is encouraged that that the Coalition has committed to an incentive based scheme for farmers to drive abatement from their sector,” NFF President David Crombie said. Mr Crombie went on to say that in addition, the NFF is comforted by the Coalition’s commitment to no additional indirect costs to energy and energy related farm inputs, which can have a major impact on the profitability of our businesses and regional communities. “Finally, the NFF seeks clarification on any Coalition plans in support of additional research and development (R&D) in forming their agriculture carbon policy.

2010 PREMIER’S CLIMATESMART SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS
Do you have a great eco-friendly project underway? Nominations are now open for the 2010 Premier’s ClimateSmart Sustainability Awards to showcase the work of Queensland business, industry, schools and community organisations. Building on the success of the Sustainable Industries Awards, these prestigious Awards will recognise Queensland-based initiatives that help reduce our carbon footprint and set best-practice benchmarks in environmental performance. Applications are open to businesses, schools, individuals, community, households, not-for-profit organisations and local government. Nominations close on Friday 26 March 2010. For more information click here or contact 07 3225 1764.

FARMERS SAY RUDD GOVT MUST INCLUDE SECTOR IN NATION-BUILDING
The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) last week used the opportunity of the annual budget submission process to remind the national government that it needs to shift focus away from short-term stimulus and back to long-term development investments that are “necessary to generate long-lasting and self-perpetuating prosperity”. President David Crombie said the farm sector has continued to deliver, despite drought, and that the 140,000 farms and support businesses accounted for $137 billion or 12 per cent of Australian economic activity in 2008. He said world population explosion will mean greater global demand for Australia in the years ahead. “Our farmers can supply it, but Australia’s infrastructure networks are simply not geared to facilitate it”, Mr Crombie stated. He emphasised that a National Infrastructure Strategy, incorporating a tripling of eastern seaboard capacity by 2020 was long overdue, and more government investment in productivity growth should appear in the 2010 budget.