Climate change: National agriculture strategy still waiting on ministers’ sign-off

It’s been three years since the nation’s agriculture ministers agreed to work on a national climate adaptation plan for farmers – so where is it?

Victorian Agriculture Minister Mary Anne Thomas.

A national strategy to help farmers adapt to climate change is awaiting approval from the nation’s agriculture ministers, three years after they first committed to the project.

But the progress is not without some politics, as Victorian Agriculture Minister Mary Anne Thomas reignites accusations that Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud has continued to refuse to convene a meeting of ag ministers.

The Agriculture Ministers’ forum agreed in May 2018 to begin work on a national strategy; the decision was significant as it was the first time climate change had been discussed at the top-level meeting since 2015.

Victoria led work on the strategy, including several reports and a recommended work plan in 2019.

No mention of the strategy has been made since then; however, The Weekly Times understands officials from all states were involved in developing an implementation plan throughout 2020, via the Climate Change Task Group.

While officials agreed to the plan in November last year, ministers have yet to discuss it. The documents were circulated to ministers earlier this year, at Ms Thomas’s request.

“As agriculture ministers, we have the opportunity to deliver a more co-ordinated national approach to agriculture and climate change that benefits all farmers,” Ms Thomas said.

Ms Thomas said she was “disappointed” that, since becoming the state’s agriculture minister last December, Mr Littleproud had yet to convene an ag ministers’ meeting to discuss issues including workforce shortages, biosecurity and climate change.

Labor state governments had raised similar complaints throughout 2020. The last forum communique available is from February last year.

Mr Littleproud rejected the accusation, saying that since the climate change work plan was agreed, ministers’ meetings had largely focused on the response to the COVID pandemic.

“The next ministerial council will take place after the budget and could not occur prior because of the WA and Tasmanian elections,” he said.

“It’s again disappointing that states play childish politics and is why there has been reform to these meetings by first ministers.”