Future Drought Fund

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The Future Drought Fund foundational programs have been announced.

We are building drought resilience through a new Future Drought Fund.

Programs

The foundational programs focus on giving our farmers the tools they need to face up to future drought. We are funding:

  • best practice business planning
  • information for decision-making
  • the adoption of research and technologies
  • ways to improve the resilience of the soil and vegetation on which farmers depend.

Communities will also benefit through improved regional planning, networks and leadership capabilities.

Find out more about these programs.

Funding model

We will fund $100 million each year for programs that help farmers and communities become more prepared for, and resilient to, the impacts of drought.

The Drought Resilience Funding Plan informs the design of the programs. The Future Drought Fund Consultative Committee advises the Minister for Drought on whether proposed programs are consistent with the Funding Plan.

Funded projects will will enhance public good by building drought resilience in Australia’s agricultural sector, agricultural landscapes and communities, by supporting:

  • an innovative and profitable farming sector
  • a sustainable natural environment, and
  • adaptable rural, regional and remote communities.

Subscribe now to stay informed and receive updates on programs as they are announced.

Here’s how you had your say

Consultation on the draft Drought Resilience Funding Plan began on 29 October 2019 and closed on 13 December 2019.

You gave feedback through:

  • face-to-face meetings held around Australia
  • an online survey
  • written submissions

We had over 690 respondents, 122 surveys were completed, 121 submissions were uploaded and over 450 people attended face to face meetings

Who engaged

Over 690 people participated in the consultation.

Survey

We received 243 submissions through our online form (surveys and written submissions). More than 24% of respondents were farmers.

24 per cent of respondents were farmers and growers, 15 per cent were regional NRM Groups, Catchment Management Authorities or Local Land Service and 13 per cent were research organisations.

Meetings

We held 73 face-to-face discussions in 23 locations around Australia. This included public meetings as well as roundtable meetings with grower groups, universities, industry, local government, state and territory government officials, charities, banks, natural resource management and landcare organisations. At those, over 450 people provided us with valuable feedback. Locations were:

  • ACT: Canberra
  • NSW: Dubbo, Moree, Orange, Sydney, Tamworth, Wagga Wagga
  • NT: Darwin
  • QLD: Brisbane, Charters Towers, Roma, Toowoomba
  • SA: Adelaide, Whyalla, Loxton
  • TAS: Hobart, Launceston
  • VIC: Horsham, Traralgon, Melbourne
  • WA: Geraldton, Merredin, Perth.

This map shows what type of meetings we held in each state.

We held 6 industry and 3 public meetings in Western Australia, 3 industry and 1 public meetings in the Northern Territory, 3 industry and 2 public meetings in South Australia, 9 industry and 4 public meetings in Queensland, 12 industry and 9 public meetings in New South Wales, 6 industry meetings in the Australian Capital Territory, 8 industry and 2 public meetings in Victoria and 3 industry and 2 public meetings in Tasmania

What you told us

Through the online surveys and submissions you raised a number of key priorities for the Future Drought Fund.

The top priorities you identified were farm business planning, community initiatives, research adoption and extension and farming youth and leadership training

Next steps

You can subscribe to stay informed and receive updates when new programs are announced.

Submissions

See all non-confidential, publicly available submissions in the document library.

The Future Drought Fund foundational programs have been announced.

We are building drought resilience through a new Future Drought Fund.

Programs

The foundational programs focus on giving our farmers the tools they need to face up to future drought. We are funding:

  • best practice business planning
  • information for decision-making
  • the adoption of research and technologies
  • ways to improve the resilience of the soil and vegetation on which farmers depend.

Communities will also benefit through improved regional planning, networks and leadership capabilities.

Find out more about these programs.

Funding model

We will fund $100 million each year for programs that help farmers and communities become more prepared for, and resilient to, the impacts of drought.

The Drought Resilience Funding Plan informs the design of the programs. The Future Drought Fund Consultative Committee advises the Minister for Drought on whether proposed programs are consistent with the Funding Plan.

Funded projects will will enhance public good by building drought resilience in Australia’s agricultural sector, agricultural landscapes and communities, by supporting:

  • an innovative and profitable farming sector
  • a sustainable natural environment, and
  • adaptable rural, regional and remote communities.

Subscribe now to stay informed and receive updates on programs as they are announced.

Here’s how you had your say

Consultation on the draft Drought Resilience Funding Plan began on 29 October 2019 and closed on 13 December 2019.

You gave feedback through:

  • face-to-face meetings held around Australia
  • an online survey
  • written submissions

We had over 690 respondents, 122 surveys were completed, 121 submissions were uploaded and over 450 people attended face to face meetings

Who engaged

Over 690 people participated in the consultation.

Survey

We received 243 submissions through our online form (surveys and written submissions). More than 24% of respondents were farmers.

24 per cent of respondents were farmers and growers, 15 per cent were regional NRM Groups, Catchment Management Authorities or Local Land Service and 13 per cent were research organisations.

Meetings

We held 73 face-to-face discussions in 23 locations around Australia. This included public meetings as well as roundtable meetings with grower groups, universities, industry, local government, state and territory government officials, charities, banks, natural resource management and landcare organisations. At those, over 450 people provided us with valuable feedback. Locations were:

  • ACT: Canberra
  • NSW: Dubbo, Moree, Orange, Sydney, Tamworth, Wagga Wagga
  • NT: Darwin
  • QLD: Brisbane, Charters Towers, Roma, Toowoomba
  • SA: Adelaide, Whyalla, Loxton
  • TAS: Hobart, Launceston
  • VIC: Horsham, Traralgon, Melbourne
  • WA: Geraldton, Merredin, Perth.

This map shows what type of meetings we held in each state.

We held 6 industry and 3 public meetings in Western Australia, 3 industry and 1 public meetings in the Northern Territory, 3 industry and 2 public meetings in South Australia, 9 industry and 4 public meetings in Queensland, 12 industry and 9 public meetings in New South Wales, 6 industry meetings in the Australian Capital Territory, 8 industry and 2 public meetings in Victoria and 3 industry and 2 public meetings in Tasmania

What you told us

Through the online surveys and submissions you raised a number of key priorities for the Future Drought Fund.

The top priorities you identified were farm business planning, community initiatives, research adoption and extension and farming youth and leadership training

Next steps

You can subscribe to stay informed and receive updates when new programs are announced.

Submissions

See all non-confidential, publicly available submissions in the document library.