Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities) Share this | Hansard source

Whether this is as contested as what we just had, I do not know, but thank you for the opportunity to speak to Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2013-2014 and to present the 2013-14 Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry appropriation. This budget is the next instalment of the Gillard government's plan for Australia's primary industries. The allocation for the portfolio in 2013-14 is $1.92 billion, an increase of $300 million over 2012-13.

The $440 million Farm Finance package will help farmers struggling with debt, through targeted financial assistance. Up to $30 million per annum for two years to each state and the Northern Territory for concessional loans to eligible farmers is available in this budget. Farm Finance includes $6.3 million over two years for around 17 new rural financial counsellors across Australia. Farm Finance enhances eligibility for the Farm Management Deposits Scheme, increasing the non-primary-production income threshold for farm management deposits from $65,000 to $100,000.

On drought reform: we know that drought in this country is inevitable, just as we know that the old exceptional circumstances policy did not work. It was reactive and inequitable and did not prepare our farmers for the future. Minister Ludwig and his state and territory colleagues recently signed an Intergovernmental Agreement on National Drought Program Reform. The centrepiece is the Commonwealth's $99.4 million investment in a new farm household allowance. Farmers can receive support when they need it. They will not have to hope that their property is on the right side of a line on a map. Case managers will provide the support farmers need to help them to better manage risk, improve their preparedness for hardship and make tough decisions about their long-term sustainability.

The National Food Plan is listed in the budget as 'decisions taken but not yet announced', but the government released Australia's first National Food Plan on 25 May, so, as we talk now, it has been announced. The plan includes $42 million worth of new initiatives, including $28.5 million for an Asian Food Markets Research Fund, $5.6 million to build Australia's food trade ties in key and emerging markets, $2.2 million to assess the long-term prospects for food supply and demand in Asian countries and $2 million to create a brand identity for Australian food. It provides a framework for Australia's food system based on the national objectives of the Australia in the Asian century white paper.

On natural resource management: the budget confirms a $200 million investment in the successful Reef Rescue program until 2018, including $70 million from the sustainable agriculture stream of Caring for our Country.

In forestry, delivering on our Tasmanian forestry agreement commitments, $500,000 is allocated to develop a national certification standard through a grant to the Forest Stewardship Council. This is an important part of the Gillard government's $330 million investment to support the historic agreement to provide certainty for industry, jobs and the environment.

Commitments made in previous budgets are confirmed in this budget. Those commitments include a continued commitment to the post-entry quarantine facility in Victoria, a continued investment in primary industries research and development and continued investment in Australia's farmers for a changing climate. I commend the portfolio appropriation to the chamber.

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