Threatened species panel should include agriculture sector: report

The federal government should take advice from the agriculture sector when deciding on protections for threatened animals and plants, says an official report that recommends spending $1 billion encouraging farmers and others to protect the environment.

Farmers say national environment laws are too
complicated and don't reflect the realities of farm life.

Environment Minister Sussan Ley welcomed the findings on Thursday, saying it was "the right time to have a conversation" about how farming, business and environmental interests could be brought together.

Many in the agriculture sector say Australia's central piece of environment law, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, is too complicated and unfairly restricts farming activities. However, conservationists say land clearing for agriculture is a key factor in the increasing number of threatened species and critical habitats must be protected.

The Department of the Environment and Energy commissioned veteran policy adviser Wendy Craik, a former executive director of the National Farmers Federation, to review how federal environment laws interact with agriculture.

Read the story from The Age by Nicole Hasham - “Threatened species panel should include agriculture sector: report.”

'Water for Victoria' - new report

One chapter is devoted to climate change.

The Victorian Government has set a new long-term direction for managing Victoria’s precious water resources.

Water for Victoria is a plan for a future with less water as Victoria responds to the impact of climate change and a growing population. The actions set out in the plan support a healthy environment, a prosperous economy with growing agricultural production, and thriving communities.

Water for Victoria was developed following extensive community consultation, including with the agriculture sector, business, Traditional Owners, recreational groups, water corporations and catchment management authorities.

The Water for Victoria discussion paper, published in March 2016, received 272 submissions. Over 700 people also contributed their ideas, knowledge and opinions on Victoria’s water priorities at 27 community and stakeholder workshops across Victoria in April 2016.

Check out the report - “Water for Victoria.”