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 […]
Exposure Draft – Native Title Legislation Amendment Bill 2018
The NFF’s submission responds to the exposure draft of amendments to the Native Title Act (Cth) 1993. The NFF notes schedules 1,2,4,5,6,7,8 and 9, and provides particular response to schedule 3, a vehicle which will undermine certainty and needs to be examined far more rigorously from a policy perspective.
Consultation on efficiency measures: Additional criteria for on-farm projects
The NFF’s submission raises two concerns: the consultation process and the questions related to additional criteria. The consultation is critical process in addressing concerns related to the implementation of the 450 GL efficiency measures. However, to date, the consultation process has been inadequate, superficial, and has not addressed community concern, but rather has fostered community […]
Improving drought resilience through natural resource management
Farmers across eastern Australia are facing the prospect of a dry summer on the back of a long period of below average rainfall. Short term assistance packages help farmers through the worst of these periods. However, a recent research report by the University of Canberra has highlighted the importance of natural resource management (NRM) in […]
Draft Report on the Murray-Darling Basin Plan: Five-year assessment
The NFF’s 10 October 2018 submission responds to the Productivity Commission’s draft recommendations to improve the effectiveness of the implementation of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. These recommendations are critical moving forward into the implementation phase of the Plan. The NFF broadly supports recommendations in the report, but caution is needed to extended deadlines of water […]
Land Use Policy
Policy Position The NFF promotes the protection of agricultural land. The long term success of the agriculture sector will be dependent on our continued access to land and water. Agricultural land is a valuable resource that all levels of government should preserve for the future prosperity of our sector and our nation. The land use […]
Independent review of interactions between the the EPBC Act and the agriculture sector
The NFF’s 22 June submission to Dr Wendy Craik’s Independent review of the interactions between the EPBC Act and the agriculture sector reflects the NFF’s ongoing advocacy for changes to the EPBC Act to improve farmers’ experience with the Act. The NFF makes a number of recommendations, including: changes to the Threatened Species Scientific Committee; […]
World Water Day I Farmers call for leadership on national water management
On World Water Day, National Farmers’ Federation President Fiona Simson said sustaining the nation’s water resources into the future was vital for farmers to continue to deliver food and fibre to the world. “Each year, the average Australian farmer feeds 600 people. “Demand for farmers to be more productive is growing with the world’s population […]
Native Vegetation
Policy Position Change is needed in the way that the Commonwealth Government administers the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act in relation to the management of native vegetation on farms. To make native vegetation policy more workable for farmers the Government must develop specific guidelines and policies that are relevant to agricultural developments, provide a […]