Future Drought Fund

The $5 billion Future Drought Fund (FDF) provides $100 million each year for drought resilience initiatives that help farmers and rural communities prepare for the impacts of drought.

Funding is guided by a Drought Resilience Funding Plan which is reviewed every 4 years.

Productivity Commission review

From January to September 2023, the Productivity Commission reviewed the Future Drought Fund. This legislated review considered progress since the Fund’s establishment in 2019. The Commission released its Inquiry Report into the effectiveness of the Future Drought Fund on 26 September 2023.

A full response to the Inquiry Report will be informed by public consultation.

See the Inquiry Report.

On 26 October 2023, the Australian Government announced $17.7 million from the Future Drought Fund (FDF) will be used to progress essential activities in line with key recommendations from the recent Productivity Commission Inquiry into the effectiveness of the FDF.

• $10 million — Short-term extension to the Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hubs (to 30 June 2025), so farmers and regional communities can continue to access information and services, while an evaluation is undertaken.
• $4.8 million — Short-term extension to the Climate Services for Agriculture program (to 30 June 2025), so farmers and regional communities can continue to access climate information through the My Climate View tool, while future program offerings are considered.
• $2.91 million — Activities to evaluate key programs, better understand the needs of First Nations communities and to improve collaboration, information sharing and the way we measure success.

A full response to the Inquiry Report will be informed by public consultation.

Have your say on the next phase of the Future Drought Fund

The Productivity Commission’s Inquiry Report and feedback from stakeholders has informed the development of a draft Drought Resilience Funding Plan 2024 to 2028 (Funding Plan), and a consultation draft of the Future Drought Fund Investment Strategy 2024 to 2028 (Investment Strategy).

We are seeking feedback to inform the next phase of funding from 2024 to 2028.

To provide feedback:

• read the draft Funding Plan
• read the consultation draft Investment Strategy
• submit your feedback via a short survey or upload a submission.

Discussion questions are provided in the draft Investment Strategy, to help facilitate stakeholder feedback.

Submissions close AEDT 5pm, 6 December 2023.

Public forums

Public face-to-face forums will also be held nationally to enable feedback that will help inform the Government’s priorities for future FDF investments, and a response to the Productivity Commission Inquiry.

Register your interest to attend for the following locations:

• Perth, Western Australia – Tuesday 21 November 3:00pm (local time)
• Geraldton, Western Australia – Wednesday 22 November 10:30am (local time)
• Traralgon, Victoria – Thursday 23 November 10:00am (local time)
• Darwin, Northern Territory – Friday 24 November 9:00am & 1:30pm (local time)
• Dubbo, New South Wales – Wednesday 29 November 10:30am (local time)
• Wagga Wagga, New South Wales – Thursday 30 November 9:00am (local time)
• Shepparton, Victoria Friday 1 December 9:00am (local time)

Two virtual meetings are also being held to seek feedback from stakeholders. Register your interest to attend one of the following virtual meetings:

• First Nations consultation – Monday 27 November 2023, 2:00 – 3:30pm AEDT
• General public consultation – Monday 4 December 2023 2:00 – 3:30pm AEDT

About the consultation documents

The draft Drought Resilience Funding Plan sets out a high-level framework to guide funding decisions.

The draft Investment Strategy sets out proposed options to implement the Productivity Commission’s recommendations and themes of future investment. When finalised, the Investment Strategy will provide stakeholders with greater clarity about the planned investments across the next 4-year funding period to facilitate better planning, sequencing and coordination of programs. It will also demonstrate links to the broader landscape of drought and climate resilience initiatives.