Chapter 1
Introduction
Terms of reference
1.1
On 19 September 2007, the Senate referred the following matter to the
Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport for inquiry and
report by 30 June 2008:
(i) the scientific evidence available on the likely future climate of Australia's
key agricultural production zones, and its implications for current farm
enterprises and possible future industries;
(ii) the need for a national strategy to assist Australian agricultural
industries to adapt to climate change; and
(iii)
the adequacy of existing drought assistance and exceptional
circumstances programs to cope with long-term climatic changes.
1.2
On 14 February 2008, the Senate re-adopted the Inquiry with terms of
reference unchanged and with a reporting date of 4 September 2008.
Conduct of the inquiry
1.3
The inquiry was advertised in The Australian and through the Internet.
The committee invited submissions from a wide range of interested
organisations, government departments and authorities and individuals. The
committee continued to accept submissions throughout the Inquiry.
1.4
The committee received 42 submissions. A list of individuals and
organisations that made public submissions to the inquiry together with other
information authorised for publication is at Appendix 1. The committee held two
public hearings in Canberra. A list of the witnesses who gave evidence at the
public hearings is available at Appendix 2.
The committee's interim report
1.5
The committee has decided to report in two stages. This interim report
addresses two parts of the Inquiry's terms of reference. Chapter 2 of the
report outlines the scientific evidence available on the likely future climate
of Australia's key agricultural production zones. Chapter 3 of the report
discusses the adequacy of existing drought assistance and exceptional
circumstances programs to cope with long-term climatic changes.
1.6
The extension in the reporting date has enabled the committee to gather
further evidence on the implications of climate change for Australia's key
agricultural zones. In particular, the committee will use the extension to
conduct further investigations into soil carbon sequestration. On 19 August 2008, a subcommittee visited the Binnu district of Western Australia for a site
visit to a farm which is developing grazing and cropping systems using
sub-tropical perennial grasses. The committee is planning a further site visit
to Western NSW in September. Information about these site visits will be
contained in the committee's final report.
1.7
The extension in the reporting date will also give the committee the opportunity
to give consideration to the final Garnaut report, which is due for release on September 30 2008, and consultations on the Federal Government's proposed emissions
trading scheme, the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. The committee will use
this information in its final report to address the remaining terms of
reference in relation to the implications of climate change on Australia's
agricultural zones and the need for a national strategy to assist Australian
agricultural industries to adapt to climate change.
1.8
The committee intends to table its final report on 4 December 2008.
Acknowledgement
1.9
The committee thanks those organisations and individuals who made
submissions and gave evidence at the public hearings.
Note on references
1.10
References in this report are to individual submissions as received by
the committee, not to a bound volume. References to the committee Hansard are
to the proof Hansard: page numbers may vary between the proof and the official
Hansard transcript.
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