A new Australian Government drought plan

OFFICIAL

Question 1: Is the Australian Government’s approach to drought across the drought cycle clear in the draft plan? Yes, and further suggest a simple flowchart summarising the Plan to make it simple and clear, and put each element of the approach into context.

Question 2: Is the draft plan clear as to why the Australian Government’s drought policy and response is different to that for natural disasters? Yes, the rationale for providing information and tools, e.g. climate data and risk management planning, to enable drought preparation, risk reduction and mitigation is sound. The ‘Learning from the past’ section is valuable, as is the pillars approach.

Question 3: Does Pillar 1 – Evidence based decision-making provide greater clarity about when, why, how, and what the government will consider when determining its response to drought? Somewhat – the audience is not always clear, e.g. is it information for farmers to improve their decision making, and/or is it information the government is using to make its response assessment. It is also not clear what action will be taken during drought using the Drought Response Framework.

What decisions or responses the government will make in relation to improved information is not clear, i.e. are there planned courses of action depending on the conditions reported in the assessment framework?

Question 4: Does Pillar 2 – Strategic drought support provide greater clarity about how the Australian Government will respond across the drought cycle, including what support it will not provide? Yes, however improvements need to be made in implementation. For example, feedback from farmers experiencing drought in western Victoria indicates that it is difficult to know what in-drought support is available, understand, and access support.
Communication of this which is developed with States and Territories as part of the implementation of this Plan would be ideal. Understanding what support is available and when, and ensuring the process to access such support is easy to follow.

Further to this, how does the Plan and its delivery partners ensure farmers and farming communities are fully aware of the responses across the drought cycle, that the focus on preparedness is critical, and a bail-out is not the status quo. Thought processes need updating within the community who need to be fully informed through a coordinated and collaborative approach by all partners involved in delivering drought preparedness activities.

Question 5: Have you identified any gaps in how we have responded to any of the review recommendations in the draft plan? Is monitoring of how many farmers are accessing drought planning workshops, as well as case studies, the only effective indicators for learning and improving?

Question 6: Do you have any comments on the work underway for us to consider as we progress it? We see opportunity to improve how the networks bring regional partners together. An opportunity could include an annual round table or conference that incorporates each of the drought response roles from national to regional partners.