Government hits self-destruct button on Basin unity

Farmers have responded with dismay at the Government’s decision to reach prematurely for water buybacks, before alternative options have been considered. National Farmers’ Federation President, Fiona Simson, said today’s announcement to deliver the Murray-Darling Basin Plan in full with buybacks squarely on the agenda would be met with disbelief given the Government’s recent consultation. “Just a few […]

Delivering the Murray-Darling Basin Plan

The NFF favours the implementation of a Plan, that gives equal weight to environmental, social, and economic outcomes. The NFF believes that there are several improvements which need to be made to make it fairer and more workable. Read full submission here.

LEAN agenda would drag Labor to the fringe – costing jobs and fuelling inflation

Australia’s peak farm body has called on delegates at the ALP National Conference this week to vote down a radical anti-farming motion backed by the Labor Environment Action Network (LEAN). Farmers say the “Climate, Clearing and Cows” motion, which calls for methane emissions to be halved in the next 6.5 years, is misinformed and in conflict […]

Future drought funding welcome, but don’t lose sight of the next drought

The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) has welcomed the announcement by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Agriculture Minister Murray Watt of $38 million from the Future Drought Fund to boost the farm sector’s resilience to climate change and dry conditions. However, NFF Vice President David Jochinke noted the funding would primarily be directed into research and […]

Climate-Related Financial Disclosure: Second Consultation

In the current context, the farm sector is opposed to formalising scope 3 emissions reporting unless and until we can clearly understand the impacts of the shared cost and time commitment of the likely compliance burden. At the outset, we recommend Treasury immediately convene a land sector specific consultation with the NFF and other stakeholders […]

More time will allow the Basin Plan to be finished the smart way

The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) welcomes Minister Plibersek’s announcement that she will seek to extend the Murray-Darling Basin Plan deadlines. NFF President Fiona Simson said the extension would buy time for smarter completion of the plan without resorting to devastating buybacks. “We all want to see the Plan completed, but a mad sprint to the […]

Productivity Commission on Interim report on the Future Drought Fund

The value of the FDF to Australian farmers and regional communities is immense. It remains a top priority for the NFF to continue to work with the Australian Government to ensure the FDF achieves its objective to build drought resilience in Australia’s agricultural sector, the agricultural landscape, and communities. Read the full submission here.

Sustainability Framework to demonstrate agriculture’s credentials 

The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) has announced its continuing partnership with the Australian Government to further develop the Australian Agricultural Sustainability Framework (AASF).    The AASF aligns industry sustainability measurement to common environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles, and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. The framework will enable Australian agriculture to demonstrate its sustainability credentials […]

1,000 reasons to give water buybacks the flick

The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) and its member bodies have put forward a range of alternative projects to deliver the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) plan, with the potential to restore 1000Gl or more without resorting to buybacks.  Chair of the NFF Water Committee, said the Government needed to seriously consider these ideas as a priority. “We’ve […]