Natural Resource Management
Managing and occupying 54% of Australia's landmass, Australian farmers are 'frontline environmentalists' embracing enviromentally-sustainable production techniques to deliver viable and eco-friendly farming.
Water
The NFF has six major policy position statements aimed at developing an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) on a National Water Initiative, launched in 2004.
NFF policies cover Best Practice Pricing; Water Entitlements and Markets; Environmental water and Infrastructure; Water Resource Accounting; Urban Water Reform; and the Murray Darling Basin Funding Initiative.
- Best Practice Pricing (97.4 kb PDF)
The NFF's policy aimed at ensuring the uptake of accountable and transparent practices to deliver efficient water pricing...
- Environmental Water and Infrastructure (95.4 kb PDF)
The NFF's position on the need to integrate the management of environmental water, focusing on long-term catchment and basin-wide water efficiencies...
- Murray Darling Basin Funding Initiative (92.9 kb PDF)
The NFF's support for the Murray Darling Basin 'Living Murray' Initiative, designed to balance the environmental, social and economic calls made upon Australia's vital Murray River system...
- Urban Water Reform (83.3 kb PDF)
The NFF's proposition on balancing the needs of urban and rural water consumption, and the potential for the uptake of water use efficiencies in urban communities...
- Water Entitlements and Markets (120.0 kb PDF)
One of the NFF's key water reform policies, outlining the importance of water property rights, to deliver security and and ensure certainty of agricultural production...
- Water Resource Accounting (97.3 kb PDF)
The NFF's call for an upgrade to world-class water measuring and monitoring, to underpin effective and efficient water resource management...
Land and Native Vegetation
'Resource Security' in relation to land is vital if farmers are to continue to deliver sustainable agriculture for the long-term benefit of the environment and community.
NFF has outlined its proposal for an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) - between State, Territory and Federal Governments on land and native vegetation in its 'Resource Security' policy, across five policy documents.
- Gamba Grass Policy (25.0 kb DOC)
The NFF's policy position on Gamba Grass...
- Greenhouse (118.3 kb PDF)
The launch of the NFF's ongoing concern and involvement in greenhouse gas emissions and climate change issues, and in particular the identification of the risks to, and opportunities for, farming in Australia...
- Integrated Regional Planning (115.9 kb PDF)
The NFF's call for a strategic regional approach to natural resource management and investment...
- Salinity (115.3 kb PDF)
The NFF's commitment to the ongoing battle against salinity, and its devastating impact on Australia's natural resources and farm lands...
- Sustainable Production (148.5 kb PDF)
The NFF's recogniton of the importance of maintaining a balance between agricultural productivity and sound long-term environmental management...
Climate Change
The NFF believes that climate change may be the greatest threat confronting Australian farmers and their productive capacity - today and into the future.
Mining and Coal Seam Gas
The rapid rise in mining and coal seam gas exploration and production has emerged as a major issue for farmers, who are concerned about the perverse affects such developments may have on agriculture.
The NFF established the Mining and Coal Seam Gas Taskforce in 2011 to tackle Federal issues around competing land use changes, the relationship between the agriculture, mining and coal seam gas industries, and to assist member organisations to work collaboratively on state based legislation.
The Taskforce's three main priorities are ensuring mining and coal seam gas developments pose no damage to productive agricultural land, no net negative impact on valuable water resources, and a demonstrated respect for farmers and regional communities.
Environment Protection & Biodiversity Conservation Act
The NFF has an Enivronment Liaison Officer (ELO) on secondment from the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities.
The ELO, Jol Taber, provides on-the-ground communication and information to farmers and rural communities about the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act), and acts as a liaison for farmers to the Department.
If you require information on the EPBC Act or any of the Department's other functions, please contact Jol for assistance.
What can the Environment Liaison Officer do for farmers?
The ELO creates numerous opportunities for farmers:
- Stakeholder access to all areas of the Department. This can include funding streams, as well as program and policy areas. If you are unsure who to talk to within the Department on a particular issue, the ELO can direct you.
- Free advice and clear explanations regarding the EPBC Act.
- Training on the processes and outputs of the Department.
- Practical assistance with aspects of referral, assessment and approval processes and other features of the EPBC Act.
- Information, such as guides, information sheets and direction to relevant websites to make it easier for farmers to work with the legislation.
- Information and training about the Department and the EPBC Act to NFF staff, organisations and rural landowners.
- Assistance with consultative processes, such as comments on nominations for threatened species, ecological communities, key threatening processes and recovery plans under the EPBC Act.
- Provision of feedback to both the NFF and the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities about the operation of the EPBC Act.
Contact
Jol Taber
Environment Liaison Officer
National Farmers' Federation
PO Box E10
Kingston ACT 2604
Free call (including mobiles): 1800 704 520
Email:
www.environment.gov.au
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