Climate data review called as farmers fume over El Nino forecast

The federal government has ordered a probe of the nation’s climate advisory body to ensure authorities and the public receive “the very best information”.

A review of the nation’s peak climate advisory body has been ordered to ensure authorities responding to natural disasters and current and future climate risks are acting on “the very best information”.

The news follows The Weekly Times reporting earlier this week that farmers had taken aim at long-term Bureau of Meteorology forecasts, arguing hype generated since its official declaration of an El Nino last month had cost the livestock industry tens of millions.

The prospect of a drier-than-average spring triggered “panic-selling” across the industry with producers swamping markets that created a glut and drove down prices, those on the ground say.

The Australian Climate Service is a partnership between the Bureau of Meteorology, CSIRO, the Australian Bureau of Statistics and Geoscience Australia.

Albert Jones of Lilyponds near Biggenden with the pen of Droughtmasters he held onto after selling his breeders due to the drought last year. Picture: Erica Murree/Central & North Burnett Times

Emergency management minister Murray Watt said the review was called to ensure the ACS was delivering on the recommendations of the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements “to inform future risk awareness and allow more targeted mitigation in the future.”

The review will investigate how governments, industry and the public can be provided with the most accurate, timely and accessible data and analytical tools to prepare and respond to increasing climate extremes and natural disasters.

The Royal Commission recommended the creation of an ACS in a report tabled in parliament in October 2020. It was subsequently established in July 2021 by the former Morrison government.

Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Jenny McAllister said the government was seeking to ensure climate adaptation and disaster risk management action was supported by “the best institutions providing the very best information to support”.

Emergency Services Minister Murray Watt. Picture: Supplied

While some good rain fell across many areas of southern Australia last week, the BOM is holding firm to its predictions of a drier-than-average spring ahead.

National Farmers' Federation vice president David Jochinke said farmers switching from the wetter La Nina period of recent years into El Nino were currently drawing down soil moisture, particularly in areas that did not receive recent rain.

“A lot of our soils are able to capture and store moisture for a period of time and at the moment even in our circumstance on our farm we’re drawing down on that moisture as we speak,” Mr Jochinke told Sky News Australia.

“There’s definitely areas that are going to experience a drought harvest this year.”

The independent review, to be chaired by former NSW Chief Scientist Professor Mary O’Kane, must report by March 2024.