National Review of Drought Policy
The National Rural Advisory Council’s reviews of expiring Exceptional Circumstances declarations are not related to the national review of drought policy and will proceed independently.
The Australian Government, in partnership with the Western Australian Government, is conducting a pilot of drought reform measures in part of Western Australia. The pilot will test a package of new measures developed in response to the national review of drought policy. The measures are designed to move from a crisis management approach to risk management. The aim is to better support farmers, their families and rural communities in preparing for future challenges, rather than waiting until they are in crisis to offer assistance. The pilot will be in place from 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2011. Payments made under one measure - Building Farm Businesses - will continue until 30 June 2014.
The pilot will be reviewed in 2011 to inform ongoing work on national drought policy reform.
For more information visit drought pilot or call the Drought Assistance Hotline on 13 23 16.
The Australian Government is conducting a comprehensive national review of drought policy through three separate assessments. The review will support the development of policies to help better prepare farmers and rural communities for a changing climate.
The review includes:
- an economic assessment of drought support measures by the Productivity Commission
- an assessment by an expert panel of the social impacts of drought on farm families and rural communities
- a climatic assessment by the Bureau of Meteorology and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) of the likely future climate patterns and the current Exceptional Circumstances standard of a one-in-20-to-25-year-event.
Media releases
- Drought support continues for farming families - 12 May 2009
- Government receives final drought review report - 6 March 2009
- Draft Productivity Commission report on drought released - 30 October 2008
- Communities give first-hand accounts of the social impact of drought - 5 August 2008
- Droughts to be more severe and occur more often in the future - 6 July 2008
- Details of national review of drought policy released – 19 June 2008
- Expert panel to review social impact of drought - 2 June 2008
- Drought policy for Australia's future - 23 April 2008
Communiques
- Primary Industries Ministerial Forum - 13 February 2009
- Primary Industries Ministerial Forum - 12 November 2008
- Primary Industries Ministerial Council – 06 November 2008
- Primary Industries Ministerial Forum - 19 September 2008
- Primary Industries Ministerial Council - 17 April 2008
- Primary Industries Ministerial Forum - 29 February 2008
Publications
- An assessment of the impact of climate change on the nature and frequency of exceptional climatic events
- It’s About People: Changing Perspectives on Dryness, A Report to Government by an Expert Social Panel – September 2008
- Productivity Commission Inquiry Report No 46, 27 February 2009 - Government Drought (Support)
Further information
For further details about the national review of drought policy, please refer to the relevant terms of reference. Terms of reference for the three assessments were developed in consultation with state and territory governments and relevant Commonwealth agencies.
Contact the national review of drought policy.