NFF calls on Parliament to support Future Drought Fund
The National Farmers’ Federation calls on Parliament to support swift passage of the Government’s Future Drought Fund this week. NFF President Fiona Simson said drought was a part of Australia’s landscape and managing drought was a feature of Australian agriculture. “For too long all levels of government have reacted to the impact of drought by […]
NFF welcomes $2 million initiative to insure farmers against drought
The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) welcomes the New South Wales Government’s announcement of $2 million to explore options for developing financial risk management tools that help farmers manage drought. “Drought continues to severely impact farmers and rural and regional communities across the east coast,” NFF President Fiona Simson said. “With the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting […]
Farmers disgusted by yet another unbalanced water report by the ABC
Last night’s 4Corners program, failed to provide viewers a factual and balanced analysis of irrigation and water management in the Murray Darling Basin and continued a pattern by some parts of the ABC of misrepresenting rural and regional Australia and the complexities of the Plan. “The management of the Murray Darling Basin is an issue […]
Farmers welcome practical recommendations for unwieldy EPBC Act
The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) has welcomed the release of the final report into the interactions between the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation 1999 Act (the Act) and the agriculture sector, prepared by Dr Wendy Craik AM. “The NFF has worked closely with Dr Craik and the review process since 2018, advocating for outcomes that […]
Election 2019: Burke’s MDB plans are 'concerning', warns NFF
The National Farmers’ Federation has acknowledged a comprehensive media statement from Labor’s Water Spokesperson, Tony Burke regarding the Party’s intentions for the Murray Darling Basin Plan. “Mr Burke’s statement contains a number of measures that are agreed across the political spectrum, and mostly consistent with the Productivity Commission and or the scientific fish death reports,” […]
Election 2019: Farmers perplexed at being left out of Labor's environment announcement
Despite owning or managing more than 50% of Australia’s land mass, farmers are concerned that agriculture was not referenced in the Australian Labor Party’s $1 billion weekend environment announcement. National Farmers’ Federation President Fiona Simson said while Labor had repeatedly assured the farm sector that agriculture would not be directly impacted by its climate policy, […]
Election 2019: Farmers seek bipartisan support for independent assessment of the Plan
The National Farmers’ Federation is calling for bipartisan support of the recently announced assessment of social and economic conditions in the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. “This is a sensible extension to the existing bipartisan agreement negotiated by Agriculture and Water Resources Minister David Littleproud and Shadow Water Minister Tony Burke,” NFF President Fiona Simson said. The […]
NFF supports water buyback audit
The National Farmers’ Federation supports a request today by the Federal Agriculture & Water Resources Minister, David Littleproud for the Auditor General to investigate all Murray Darling Basin water buybacks carried out under successive governments since 2008. NFF Chief Executive Tony Mahar said in fact, the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) had already planned to […]
Inquiry into the Water Amendment (Purchase Limit Repeal) Bill 2019
The NFF does not support the proposed amendments to the Water Act 2007, to repeal Division 5 of part 2, that would remove the statutory limit of 1500 gigalitre on Commonwealth purchases of surface water across the Murray-Darling Basin. The NFF is of the view that acquiring water from irrigation should be balanced with other […]
Inquiry into the impact on the agricultural sector of vegetation and land management policies, regulations and restrictions
The NFF’s submission explores the intersection between land management policies, regulations, and restrictions and the agricultural sector’s ability to prudently management fire risk on their properties, and highlights the agricultural sector’s land and vegetation management practices that manage fire risk and particular the broader factors that contribute to fire risk in regional, rural and remote […]