With Australia being the driest inhabited continent, drought is an expected and accepted part of life on the land.

However it can hit families, businesses, communities and regional economies hard and like other disasters, being prepared and ready to respond is paramount.

With this in mind the Australian Government has drafted a new drought plan.

 “Farmers can’t control markets or the weather, but they can (and do) prepare for shocks."

"For drought, that means getting ready when times are good, making informed decisions as the weather becomes drier, drawing on reserves in drought, and bouncing back when conditions improve,” says Julie Collins Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in her foreword of the new Drought Plan.

Image courtesy NSW Government Water

The Australian Government has co-signed National Drought Agreement 2024 to 2029 with state and territory governments, released the Future Drought Fund Drought Resilience Funding Plan 2024 to 2028, and delivered the Drought plan for proactive preparation for future drought conditions.

With climate models predicting more and longer lasting droughts, the plan has been devised by experts and stakeholders via several streams of consultation and agreement.

A National Drought Forum in conjunction with the National Farmers Federation in September 2023 featured panel discussions and workshops on building the financial resilience of farmers, improving community engagement, supporting better decision-making by stakeholders and improving information flows. The findings of these sessions informed the plan.

 The drought policy aims to:

• build the drought resilience of farming businesses by enabling preparedness, risk management and financial self-reliance
• ensure an appropriate safety net is always available to those experiencing hardship
• encourage stakeholders to work together to address the challenges of drought.

The Plan aims to support the agricultural sector to manage drought by preparing (before drought, for drier times ahead), responding during drought (implementing plans and strategies to manage impacts) and recovering after drought (to recover and consider lessons learned).

 Figure 1 Timeline of Australian Government drought policy

 It is based on a four-pillar guideline, which includes:

1. Evidence based decision making, helping farming businesses and communities to plan along with a drought response framework.
2. Strategic drought support across the drought cycle, enabling preparedness and risk management, providing support during drought and facilitating recovery.
3. Working together through shared responsibilities.
4. Learning and improving - a framework to guide the implementation of the Plan.

The comprehensive document looks at all aspects of drought by also linking to other areas such as water, climate adaptation and mitigation, health, animal welfare, biosecurity, pest and weeds, regional investment, natural resource management and biodiversity and disaster response and resilience.

According to a Western area farmer this drought plan can only be a good thing.

“Over the years the bureaucrats have seemed to flounder when it comes to preparation for drought due to a disconnect between those in suits in the city who make policies and those on the ground battling the fallout that drought causes to both farmers and community,” he said.

“A higher understanding of what happens in regional and rural areas in terms of the food making belt would go a long way to educating people that farmers are not just a pack of whingers but have a vital role to play in feeding the nation, which is sorely tested in times of drought.

“Hopefully a true consultation with farmers has played a part in the new plan and it will make a positive difference moving forward."

Julie Collins Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. IMAGE: Julie Collins MP instagram

Minister Collins says the government has taken the time to listen to develop this Drought Plan.

 “It is the culmination of a review of the previous plan, public consultations, and ongoing discussions with a broad range of government and non-government stakeholders.

 “It proposes a way to help farming businesses and communities continue to adapt. I encourage everyone with an interest in the future of Australian agriculture to read and share this plan."