The prospects for rain are at best uncertain. We are at crisis point and need to take decisions as a nation on what needs to be done to address the drought.
The drought afflicting Australia’s eastern seaboard grows worse. Forecasters provide no reason to be optimistic about substantial rains this coming summer, or even beyond. What began as a big problem for our farmers has become a crisis for them, for too many rural communities and indeed, for the nation.
The line between alarmist predictions and alerting people to the potential calamity we now face, is a fine one. It’s easy to believe it will rain because it always does, eventually. But what if it doesn’t? Or not much? At what point in time do you concede it might not rain, and act accordingly? I believe that time is now.
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Joel Fitzgibbon is chair of the Australian Forest Products Association.
