Drought assistance for farmers unsustainable
With Tasmania experiencing rainfall 20 percent below average and Queensland experiencing the largest area of drought ever, the Annual Conference of the Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society is underway in Canberra. Drought policy was on the table at a workshop presented by Professor Lin Crase the director of the centre for water policy and management at LaTrobe University. In last year’s Agricultural White Competitiveness Paper, the federal government made a commitment to always stand by farmers in drought. But, Professor Crase’s workshop questioned how much the government should be involved in drought response, if at all. Experts suggest greater farmer self-reliance is more sustainable and better for everyone in the long run. Laura Corrigan reports
Annual Conference of the Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society