Additional Comments from Labor
1.1
The National Rural Advisory Council (NRAC) was established in 1999 under
the Rural Adjustment Act 1992 (RA Act).
1.2
It was established as a statutory skills-based independent advisory
council body. NRAC was to give the Minister (for Agriculture and Water
Resources) independent advice and information as requested by the Minister.
1.3
On the 15 December 2014 the Government announced that as part of their
smaller Government reform NRAC would merge with the Agricultural Industry
Advisory Council (AIAC).
1.4
The Government is claiming that by abolishing the legislative framework
which enables the establishment of NRAC it reduces work duplication. However,
work agendas will only be duplicated if the Minister chooses to task both
bodies with the same work program.
1.5
Labor also disputes the Government's position that NRAC was merged with
AIAC, in no way does the Minister's new advisory committee resemble NRAC. AIAC
is not a statutory body; it is not required to provide an annual report or to
be accountable for spending costs. No former NRAC members were selected to
serve on the Minister's new advisory body.
1.6
Future Governments may choose to re-establish the structure of NRAC in
preference to a hand-picked advisory body by the Minister of the day.
1.7
Labor strongly supports independent bodies providing high level advice
to Government undertaken with due diligence, that is also transparent and
without fear or favour to the Ministers of the day.
1.8
Labor recommends that the Government amends the Omnibus Repeal Day
(Spring 2015) Bill 2015 to repeal only part of the RA Act, that is, obsolete
provisions relating to the Rural Adjustment Scheme and the Farm Business
Improvement Program. Both programs have been superseded by new reforms for
drought support as part of the Intergovernmental Agreement on National Drought
Program Reform (agreed on 3 May 2013).
Recommendation 1
1.9
That the Government or Senate amend the Omnibus Repeal Day
(Spring 2015) Bill 2015 to retain the legislative framework within the Rural
Adjustment Act 1992 for the establishment of the National Rural
Advisory Council.
Senator Jenny McAllister
Deputy Chair
Senator Nova Peris OAM
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