{"id":240379,"date":"2019-07-24T20:51:21","date_gmt":"2019-07-24T10:51:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=240379"},"modified":"2019-07-24T21:06:04","modified_gmt":"2019-07-24T11:06:04","slug":"agforce-hails-drought-future-fund","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2019\/07\/24\/agforce-hails-drought-future-fund\/","title":{"rendered":"AgForce Hails Drought Future Fund"},"content":{"rendered":"
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AgForce CEO Mike Guerin (Photo: AgForce)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

July 24, 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

AgForce has commended the Federal Government\u2019s creation of the Drought Future Fund as \u201cprogressive\u201d and \u201cthe right path to better drought management\u201d for its emphasis on preparedness and risk management rather than the traditional crisis response.<\/p>\n

CEO Michael Guerin also praised the Federal Opposition for their bipartisan approach to the initiative.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith two-thirds of Queensland now drought-declared, and some regions well into their eighth year without decent rain, the need for a consistent bipartisan approach to drought management has never been more acute,\u201d Mr Guerin said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAgForce has developed and been advocating a proactive \u2018business cycle approach\u2019 that recognises drought as an inevitable feature of farming in Australia that could be prepared for and mitigated against, if not fully managed.<\/p>\n

\u201cAcross Australia, drought has a multi-billion dollar impact on farm productivity and profitability, not to mention the social and environmental hardships.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fund is a fiscally responsible way to provide a secure, \u2018year-in year-out\u2019 revenue stream for funding initiatives that enhance future drought resilience, preparedness and responses.<\/p>\n

\u201cPrimary producers will have better and more reliable access to information, tools and other supports to build their resilience to drought and minimise its impacts on their businesses and their families.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese measures will ensure Australian agriculture can continue to progressively grow towards its 2030 $100 billion farmgate value target.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr Guerin said the measure was in the same vein as changes recently proposed by the State Government to its drought policy, also consistent with the “business cycle” approach AgForce had been briefing them on for some time.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIt is very pleasing that both levels of government appear to be generally on the same page when it comes to managing drought, which provides long-term confidence to industry to plan and invest,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe also commend the commitment of both Federal and State Governments to industry engagement and input.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Federal Government\u2019s creation of a Consultative Committee to ensure primary industries have a central role in refining and implementing the Drought Future Fund and guiding the initiatives it supports, will be critical to its success.\u201d<\/p>\n

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