Ministry elaborates priorities towards biosecurity, workforce, sustainability, and trade around Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Australia’s Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Murray Watt summerised the achievement of the sector over the past one year.
Discussing the progress, Minister Watt said, “Despite significant global challenges and major flooding at home in the last year, the sector continues to prosper with record production of $90 billion, record exports of $75 billion and high farm incomes across a range of industries. Now we want to build on that platform, focusing on our priorities of biosecurity, workforce, sustainability, and trade. The partnerships we have built, the listening we have done and the additional $2.3 billion in federal funding in the past year will support the sector as we continue to support it to reach its $100 billion goal.”
Some of the majorly invested sectors are;
Biosecurity : Since 2022, Australia has vigorously invested on sustainable funding model for biosecurity with permanent funding of $1.03 billion locked in. This is the first time an Australian government has ever provided such a significant funding injection, and it heralds the beginning of a new era of biosecurity protection in Australia.
It is estimated that Australia has committed over $40 million for 65 Indigenous Ranger groups to participate in a North Australian Coordination Network, which will greatly enhance surveillance capabilities in the north of Australia.
Among the significant achievements are, “keeping Australia free of Foot and Mouth Disease and Lumpy Skin Disease”, “Delivering Australia’s first National Biosecurity Strategy”, “Creation of a joint taskforce with the National Emergency Management Agency, increased preparedness for exotic animal disease incursions:, “Implementing a national traceability system for sheep and goats” and “Delivering critical support to overseas partners to combat exotic animal and plant diseases”.
Sustainable production and climate adaptation
Government has worked with our agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors to become even more sustainable by:
- Investing $302 million through the Natural Heritage Trust to drive climate-smart agriculture practices and sustainable agricultural outcomes, in partnership with industry
- Investing a record $300 million in the forestry sector that will support the expansion of the plantation estate, modernise our timber manufacturing and increase its role in reducing Australia’s emissions
- Investing $20 million to implement the National Soil Action Plan
- Committing over $38 million in ABARES for data and analytic capability to support the sector to face climate change
- Committing $29 million for the Methane Emissions Reduction in Livestock (MERiL) program and investing $8 million to advance seaweed farming—something that has potential to help reduce livestock emissions as a feed supplement
- Committing $20.3 million to the Carbon Farming Outreach program
- Joining the global community in its efforts to reduce emissions, including signing the Global Methane Pledge and the Forests and Climate Leaders Partnership
- Working with States and Territories to develop the first National Statement on Climate Change and Agriculture
Furthermore, Australia has committed to genuine sustainable production and best practices in animal welfare, which means that it meets the high standards expected by consumers and markets in the animal welfare sector. Such as,
- Investing $302 million through the Natural Heritage Trust to drive climate-smart agriculture practices and sustainable agricultural outcomes, in partnership with industry
- Investing a record $300 million in the forestry sector that will support the expansion of the plantation estate, modernise our timber manufacturing and increase its role in reducing Australia’s emissions
- Investing $20 million to implement the National Soil Action Plan
- Committing over $38 million in ABARES for data and analytic capability to support the sector to face climate change
- Committing $29 million for the Methane Emissions Reduction in Livestock (MERiL) program and investing $8 million to advance seaweed farming—something that has potential to help reduce livestock emissions as a feed supplement
- Committing $20.3 million to the Carbon Farming Outreach program
- Joining the global community in its efforts to reduce emissions, including signing the Global Methane Pledge and the Forests and Climate Leaders Partnership
- Working with States and Territories to develop the first National Statement on Climate Change and Agriculture
Trade
The Australian-UK FTA came into force, providing massively expanded trade opportunities for Australian producers, exporters, and importers.
To improve agricultural trade, Australia has:
- Gained, improved, and maintained access to 107 markets an increase worth a potential $5.47 billion
- Delivered market strategies for LSD and FMD safeguarding trade in an outbreak
- Progressed negotiations for the Australia-EU FTA
- Built on our trade relationship with India—a potentially huge market—through ratifying the Australia-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement
- Begun restoring trade with China, including recently resuming cotton and timber exports and progressing the removal of barley tariffs
- Provided $1.6m to progress mandatory country of origin labelling for seafood
