June 29, 2023
Former AgForce CEO Charles Burke will head a State Government review into how drought declarations are made.
A previous review of drought programs – co-chaired by Mr Burke and former Queensland Farmers Federation CEO Ruth Wade – recommended a review of the Local Drought Committee (LDC) system to incorporate more science-based data into drought declarations.
LDCs were set up in 1982 to support decisions on Queensland’s drought situation, with local committees generally meeting at the end of each wet season to make recommendations to the Minister on whether an area should be drought-declared.
The LDC system was designed to support the payment of freight subsidies to drought-affected primary producers under the Drought Relief Assistance Scheme, which is being phased out.
Current Queensland drought programs, such as drought preparedness grants and drought ready and recovery loans, do not rely on a drought declaration.
However, other drought-related programs – such as water licence waivers and electricity charge relief – do rely on declarations.
Mr Burke’s review will:
- Assess and provide analysis on current arrangements for LDCs and whether they are appropriate;
- Provide alternative policy options for future drought declarations or alternative triggers; and
- Advise on the purposes of future drought declarations and their nature.
The review process will include targeted consultation with stakeholders, including existing members of LDCs.
Recommendations from the review will be handed to Agriculture Minister Mark Furner later this year.
“This part of the drought support reform process was recommended in the previous review of drought programs but was delayed due to COVID-19 after consultation with industry groups,” Minister Furner said.
“With less than 10 per cent of Queensland now drought-declared, this is the right time to take this next step in the reform process and ensure our drought programs are as strong as they can be.”
