6 July 2008
DAFF08/084B

Australia could experience drought twice as often and the events will be twice as severe within 20 to 30 years, according to a new Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO report.

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke today released the report commissioned by the Rudd Government as part of a review of national drought policy.

The overall review, announced in April, will help prepare farmers, rural communities and Australia’s primary industries for the challenges of climate change.

The Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO climatic report on future drought events – the first of its kind in Australia – will be considered as part of the drought policy review.

Key findings of the Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO report include:

• Under a high scenario, droughts could occur twice as often, cover twice the area and be more severe in key agricultural production areas;
• The current definition of ‘Exceptional Circumstances’, which defines areas eligible to apply for Federal Government drought assistance, is out-of-date;
• Temperatures currently defined as ‘exceptional’ are likely to occur, on average, once in every two years in many key agricultural production areas within the next 20 to 30 years;
• We need better ways of getting information about climate change preparedness to farmers.

As of June, there were 74 drought-declared areas across Australia receiving Exceptional Circumstances drought support.

South Australia and the southern Murray Darling Basin region are among the worst affected regions in Australia.

Since July 2002, the Federal Government has made more than 55,000 interest rate subsidy payments for farmers and small businesses. More than 23,300 farmers and 1,500 small business operators are receiving income support.

The Rudd Government has committed more than $760 million for Exceptional Circumstances assistance in the 2008-09 financial year.

The overall drought policy review also includes two other investigations – an independent expert panel headed by AgForce Queensland president Peter Kenny look at the social impact of drought, and an economic assessment by the Productivity Commission.

The Government has guaranteed that any policy changes will not affect farmers or businesses currently receiving Exceptional Circumstances funding.

The panel will hold public forums around the country starting with Tasmania on July 17 and moving through the Northern Territory, NSW, Western Australia, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia.

Reports from the social panel and the Productivity Commission investigation are expected later this year.

“This drought is infamous – the worst of its kind in a century in Australia – and farmers are still in its grip in many parts of the country,” Mr Burke said.

“We’ve already seen farmers walking off the land and rural communities struggling to stay afloat in the face of widespread stress and depression.

“Yet this report suggests this rare event could occur much more often due to climate change.

“We need to act now to ensure we are better prepared for climate change in the future.”

The Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO report ‘An assessment of the impact of climate change on the nature and frequency of exceptional climatic events’ is available at www.daff.gov.au/droughtpolicyreview or on freecall 1800 200 876.