Farmers will receive assistance to prepare for the greatest challenge facing Australia’s primary producers – climate change – under the $130.0 million, four-year Australia’s Farming Future program in the 2008-09 Budget.

“Climate change presents a threat to our primary producers, but it also offers opportunities if we invest now in research and industry preparation,” Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke said.

“The Government is focused on ensuring our primary industries remain globally competitive and prepared for the increased risk of pests and disease resulting from climate change.

“The cost of dealing with climate change is not nearly as expensive as the cost of doing nothing.”

The Australia’s Farming Future initiative is worth $130.0 million over four years, beginning in July this year, including:

• $60.0 million for the Climate Change Adaptation Partnerships Program to increase our understanding of climate change impacts and improve on-farm preparedness;
• $15.0 million for the Climate Change and Productivity Research Program to undertake research on managing emissions and adaptation; and
• $55.0 million for the Climate Change Adjustment Program to provide primary producers with professional advice, training and re-establishment grants.

Grants of up to $5,500 will be available under the Climate Change Adjustment Program to provide farmers with professional advice, including improved farm planning and training to update or acquire new skills to manage the risks of climate change, or to prepare for a career change.

Australia’s forestry industry will also be better placed to meet the challenges of climate change under a three-year, $8.0 million forestry adaptation action plan.

“Labor will deliver on its election commitment to work with industry and other stakeholders to look at opportunities for forestry, such as enhanced forest growth due to the capacity to store increased atmospheric carbon in forests.”

The action plan will identify:

• priority areas for forestry research;
• the risks posed by climate change such as the increased frequency and severity of bushfires; and
• possible impacts of climate change such as faster forest growth from increased carbon, balanced with limited water availability.

The Rudd Government is also developing an action plan for Australia’s fisheries to ensure a vibrant commercial fishing industry into the future.

“There are large gaps in our understanding of the impact of climate change on our fisheries, and we want to address those gaps,” Mr Burke said.

“We are fast-tracking the National Climate Change and Fisheries Action Plan to help increase the resilience of our fishing sectors to climate change, including wild catch, aquaculture and recreational fisheries.”

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry will prepare the action plan in consultation with the commercial and recreational fishing industry and the Australian Fisheries Management Forum.