Statement by Tony Mahar, Chief Executive of the National Farmers’ Federation.
The Federal Government’s $1.1 billion dollar commitment to the National Landcare Program will help Australia’s farm sector continually improve the sustainability of its farming practices.
The National Landcare Program recognises the important role farmers play on behalf of the community as stewards of the environment. It provides the resources to help farmers improve biodiversity, water quality and soil health, and sequester carbon.
The Regional Land Partnerships Program announced today is a new approach.
The $450 million dedicated to Regional Land Partnerships is a significant budget commitment and we must ensure that the program delivers meaningful and measurable outcomes – for the environment, for farmers and land managers, and for communities.
In finalising the program settings, Government must ensure that this investment is properly coordinated and focused on landscape-scale priorities, rather than a scattergun approach resulting in disjointed investments.
The NFF looks forward to further announcements about the program, including those components of the program that will be focused on sustainable agriculture activities.
We are hoping that Government will refresh its focus, to enable the agriculture sector to leverage the investment we make in innovation to promote and share ideas and new practices and to encourage their adoption by farmers.
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