Shared responsibilities in drought response, recovery and preparedness

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

Consultation has concluded

We have worked with stakeholders to build a common understanding of shared responsibilities in drought response, recovery and preparedness.

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on what our shared responsibilities are across the drought cycle. A summary of consultation findings and Non-confidential submissions are available in the document library. Please note consultation findings are not a formal Australian Government position, rather a reflection of what we heard through our Have Your Say Consultation.

We have listened and taken action

We have taken on your feedback, and developed a framework of the shared responsibilities concept. This framework explains the roles and responsibilities of those involved in drought and provides principles to guide how we can work together better.

An overview of this project is available in the document library, outlining objectives, intended outcomes, key milestones and frequently asked questions including what this work means for farmers and their communities.

How you had your say

We invited feedback from people across sectors, including:

  • farmers
  • agriculture industry representative bodies
  • the banking sector
  • the financial services sector
  • the professional services sector
  • governments of all levels
  • charity and not-for-profit organisations.

You gave feedback through:

  • a workshop at the National Drought Forum
  • virtual meetings held with key stakeholder groups
  • an online survey
  • written submissions.

Who engaged

Sectors represented in the survey include:

  • public administration
  • cropping enterprises
  • livestock enterprises
  • mixed farming enterprises
  • local Government representatives
  • the community services sector
  • the Not-for-Profit sector
  • Rural Financial Counselling Service
  • farm consultants
  • peak farming bodies
  • the environment sector
  • members of the farming community
  • financial planning sector
  • industry representative bodies

What you said

The most common themes raised include:

  • Now is the time to learn from past experiences and use that knowledge to prepare for the next drought.
  • A holistic approach to drought support is needed. There are many players involved and a whole of community focus is needed. There are a range of risks and opportunities (including but not limited to drought). There is a need to provide a holistic network and toolkit of support across the whole drought cycle.
  • It is important to provide certainty, clarity and transparency in responses to drought.
  • There are many pathways to resilience. Individual circumstances influence what activities are important and useful for different farm businesses. But, there are common themes, including risk management and industry best practice management.
  • Throughout the drought cycle, different Australian Government assistance measures are valued. But issues with certain program parameters remain. There should be a greater focus on resilience, preparedness and building self-reliance.
  • Stakeholders want to be involved.

What happens next

We are reflecting on what we heard and taking the Framework forward through the new Australian Government Drought Plan , which is currently being developed and expected to be published in the first half of 2024.

We have worked with stakeholders to build a common understanding of shared responsibilities in drought response, recovery and preparedness.

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on what our shared responsibilities are across the drought cycle. A summary of consultation findings and Non-confidential submissions are available in the document library. Please note consultation findings are not a formal Australian Government position, rather a reflection of what we heard through our Have Your Say Consultation.

We have listened and taken action

We have taken on your feedback, and developed a framework of the shared responsibilities concept. This framework explains the roles and responsibilities of those involved in drought and provides principles to guide how we can work together better.

An overview of this project is available in the document library, outlining objectives, intended outcomes, key milestones and frequently asked questions including what this work means for farmers and their communities.

How you had your say

We invited feedback from people across sectors, including:

  • farmers
  • agriculture industry representative bodies
  • the banking sector
  • the financial services sector
  • the professional services sector
  • governments of all levels
  • charity and not-for-profit organisations.

You gave feedback through:

  • a workshop at the National Drought Forum
  • virtual meetings held with key stakeholder groups
  • an online survey
  • written submissions.

Who engaged

Sectors represented in the survey include:

  • public administration
  • cropping enterprises
  • livestock enterprises
  • mixed farming enterprises
  • local Government representatives
  • the community services sector
  • the Not-for-Profit sector
  • Rural Financial Counselling Service
  • farm consultants
  • peak farming bodies
  • the environment sector
  • members of the farming community
  • financial planning sector
  • industry representative bodies

What you said

The most common themes raised include:

  • Now is the time to learn from past experiences and use that knowledge to prepare for the next drought.
  • A holistic approach to drought support is needed. There are many players involved and a whole of community focus is needed. There are a range of risks and opportunities (including but not limited to drought). There is a need to provide a holistic network and toolkit of support across the whole drought cycle.
  • It is important to provide certainty, clarity and transparency in responses to drought.
  • There are many pathways to resilience. Individual circumstances influence what activities are important and useful for different farm businesses. But, there are common themes, including risk management and industry best practice management.
  • Throughout the drought cycle, different Australian Government assistance measures are valued. But issues with certain program parameters remain. There should be a greater focus on resilience, preparedness and building self-reliance.
  • Stakeholders want to be involved.

What happens next

We are reflecting on what we heard and taking the Framework forward through the new Australian Government Drought Plan , which is currently being developed and expected to be published in the first half of 2024.