Footnotes

Chapter 2 - Future climate for Australia's key agricultural production zones

[1]        The IPCC is a scientific intergovernmental body set up by the World Meteorological Organisation and the United Nations Environment Programme. The IPCC's role is to assess the latest literature relevant to understanding the risk of human-induced climate change, its observed and projected impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation. The IPCC's Fourth Assessment Report, comprising four volumes was released in 2007. The full reference for the Synthesis Report, which contains a synthesis of all the findings in the assessment report is: IPCC, 2007: Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report. Contributions of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Core Writing Team Pachauri, R.K and Reisinger, A. (eds.)]. IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland (Synthesis Report). Unless otherwise stated, references to the IPCC's Fourth Assessment Report are to the Synthesis Report.

[2]        Climate Change in Australia complements the IPCC Report detailing regional climate change detail, consistent with the global predictions in the IPCC Report. The full reference for Climate Change in Australia is: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM): Climate Change in Australia – Technical Report 2007.

[3]        Climate Change in Australia, pp 38-39.

[4]        Climate Change in Australia, p. 44.

[5]        IPCC, 2007: Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Solomon, S., D. Qin, M. Manning, Z. Chen, M. Marquis, K.B. Averyt, M. Tignor and H.L. Miller (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA, p. 898.

[6]        Climate Change in Australia, p. 49.

[7]        These scenarios are commonly referred to as the 'SRES emissions scenarios' – after the IPCC's Special Report on Emissions Scenarios: IPCC, 2000: Special Report on Emissions Scenarios, [Nebojsa Nakicenovic and Rob Swart (Eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, (SRES Report) available at http://www.ipcc.ch/ipccreports/sres/emission/index.htm (accessed 1 August 2008).

[8]        IPCC, 2000: SRES Report, Chapter 1, Section 1.2, What are scenarios?

[9]        IPCC, 2000: SRES Report, Chapter 1, section 1.3, Uses and Purposes.

[10]      IPCC, 2000: SRES Report, Summary for Policy Makers, Box 1.

[11]      IPCC, 2000: SRES Report, Summary for Policy Makers, Box 1.

[12]      Committee Hansard, 30 June 2008, p. 6. See also BoM, Submission 7, p. 2.

[13]      Committee Hansard, 1 July 2008, p. 20. See also Ms Boele, Committee Hansard, 1 July 2008, p. 16.

[14]      Submission 18, p. 3.

[15]      See for example WA Department of Water, Submission 26, p. 1; Queensland Government, Submission 30, p. 4.

[16]      See Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), Submission 7, p. 2; WA Department of Water, Submission 26, p. 1; Queensland Government, Submission 30, p. 4.

[17]      IPCC, 2007: Synthesis Report, p. 30.

[18]      IPCC, 2007: Synthesis Report, p. 45.

[19]      See Climate Change in Australia, Table 5.1, p. 50 for a summary of how projections for each climate variable were made. A set of 23 climate models were used for projections, although not all variables could be modelled. The table also sets out the emissions scenarios that were modelled.

[20]      See Climate Change in Australia, pp 53-64.

[21]      Temperature projections were made relative to a baseline period of 1980-1999, referred to as '1990' for convenience. See Climate Change in Australia, p. 51.

[22]      Climate Change in Australia, p. 53. A full set of projections for all emissions scenarios is set out in Appendix A of Climate Change in Australia.

[23]      'Best estimate' is based on the 50^th percentile, the mid-point of the spread of model results, see Climate Change in Australia, Summary Brochure – Observed Changes and Projections, p. 3.

[24]      See Climate Change in Australia, pp 65-75.

[25]      Climate Change in Australia, p. 65.

[26]      Climate Change in Australia, p. 67.

[27]      See Climate Change in Australia, pp 83-84.

[28]      Climate Change in Australia, p. 83.

[29]      This information was drawn directly from Climate Change in Australia, Summary Brochure – Observed Changes and Projections, pp 11-12.

[30]      See also, Climate Change in Australia, p. 78.

[31]      This risk may also exist elsewhere in Australia, but was not examined in Climate Change in Australia, see pp. 90-91.

[32]      See for example: Rural Business Development Corporation, Submission 15, p. 1; Queensland Government, Submission 30, p. 4.

[33]      Submission 23, p. 3.

[34]      Submission 31, p. 10.

[35]      Dr Beverly Henry, Manager Environment, Sustainability and Climate Change, Meat and Livestock Australia, Committee Hansard, 1 July 2008, p. 3.

[36]      Dr Michael Robinson, Executive Director, Land and Water Australia; and Chair, Joint Strategy Team, National Climate Change Research Strategy for Primary Industries, Committee Hansard, 30 June 2008, p. 57.

[37]      Climate Change in Australia, p. 41.

[38]      Submission 7, p. 5. The National Farmers Federation has also identified the research and development of more accurate climate models as a primary focus, see Submission 24, p. 6.

[39]      Submission 4, p. 1.

[40]      Submission 13, p. 3.

[41]      Committee Hansard, 1 July 2008, pp 24-25.

[42]      Committee Hansard, 1 July 2008, p. 25. See also Dr Mark Howden, Theme Leader, Climate Adaptation Flagship, CSIRO, Committee Hansard, 30 June 2008, p. 17 who noted the usefulness of organisations such as Landcare for communicating information to farmers.

[43]      Submission 7, pp 5-6.

[44]      See for example: Gwydir Valley Irrigators Association Inc, Submission 14, p. 1; Apple and Pear Limited, Submission 23, p. 1; Growcom, Submission 31, p. 8; Mr Tim Wiley, Committee Hansard, 30 June 2008, p. 39; Mr Ben Faragher, Chief Executive Officer, National Farmers Federation, Committee Hansard, 1 July 2008, p. 26.

[45]      BoM, Submission 7, p. 4, quoting from Climate Change in Australia.

[46]      See for example Mr Jason Alexandra, Director, Water Policy Coordination, Murray-Darling Basin Commission, Committee Hansard, 30 June 2008, p. 67; Queensland Government, Submission 30, p. 4; Growcom, Submission 31, p. 8.

 

Chapter 3 - Drought Assistance and Exceptional Circumstances Programs

[1]        Unless otherwise stated, the following information is taken from Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and the Department of Climate Change (DCC), Submission 34, pp 17-18.

[2]        DAFF and DCC state that a drought is a prolonged, abnormally dry period when there is not enough water for users' normal needs. However, because people use water in many different ways, there is no universal definition of drought, see Submission 34, p. 17.

[3]        Unless otherwise stated, information in the following section is from DAFF, Information Handbook: Exceptional Circumstances. Guide to the policy and assistance measures provided under Exceptional Circumstances Arrangements, February 2008, pp 7-12 (EC Handbook). Available at http://www.daff.gov.au/agriculture-food/drought/ec (accessed 8 August 2008).

[4]        See particularly DAFF, EC Handbook, pp 10-12.

[5]        DAFF and DCC, Submission 34, p. 18. The NRAC is an independent committee which advises the Minister on rural issues, including EC declaration applications. The NRAC comprises up to eight members, including: a Chairperson; an Australian Government representative; a State or Territory Government representative; a representative of the NFF; and others appointed as expert members in the areas of economics, financial administration, banking, sustainable agriculture, farm management or training.

[6]        DAFF and DCC, Submission 34, p. 18.

[7]        DAFF and DCC, Submission 34, pp 31-33.

[8]        See also DAFF and DCC, Submission 34, pp 34-35; and DAFF, Drought Assistance: A summary of measures provided by the Australian, State and Territory Government, February 2008 (Drought Assistance Handbook), available at http://www.daff.gov.au/agriculture-food/drought/assistance/compendium (accessed 18 July 2008).

[9]        DAFF and DCC, Submission 34, pp 25-26. See also DAFF, EC Handbook, pp 15-16.

[10]      DAFF and DCC, Submission 34, p. 25.

[11]      DAFF and DCC, Submission 34, pp 22-23, and DAFF, EC Handbook, pp 17-20.

[12]      DAFF and DCC, Submission 34, p. 27.

[13]      See DAFF, Professional Advice and Planning Grant: Frequently Asked Questions, 19 March 2008, available at: http://www.daff.gov.au/agriculture-food/drought/assistance/advice (accessed 8 August 2008).

[14]      DAFF and DCC, Submission 34, p. 21.

[15]      DAFF and DCC, Submission 34, p. 22. See also DAFF, Drought Assistance Handbook, p. 18.

[16]      DAFF and DCC, Submission 34, p. 22.

[17]      DAFF, Drought Assistance Handbook, p. 27.

[18]      DAFF, Drought Assistance Handbook, p. 19.

[19]      Submission 34, pp 27-28.

[20]      Submission 34, p. 28.

[21]      Submission 34, p. 16.

[22]      Submission 34, p. 16.

[23]      DAFF, Climate Change Adjustment Program: Frequently Asked Questions, 1 July 2008. Available at http://www.daff.gov.au/agriculture-food/australias-farming-future/climate-change-adjustment-assistance/climate_chane_adjustment_program_faq (accessed 18 July 2008).

[24]      DAFF, Climate Change Adjustment Program: Frequently Asked Questions, 1 July 2008, pp 3-4, available at http://www.daff.gov.au/agriculture-food/australias-farming-future/climate-change-adjustment-assistance/climate_chane_adjustment_program_faq (accessed 18 July 2008).

[25]      DAFF, Climate Change Adjustment Program: Frequently Asked Questions, 1 July 2008, p. 8, available at http://www.daff.gov.au/agriculture-food/australias-farming-future/climate-change-adjustment-assistance/climate_chane_adjustment_program_faq (accessed 18 July 2008).

[26]      DAFF, Climate Change Adjustment Program: Frequently Asked Questions, 1 July 2008, pp 5-8, available at http://www.daff.gov.au/agriculture-food/australias-farming-future/climate-change-adjustment-assistance/climate_chane_adjustment_program_faq (accessed 18 July 2008). People will be excluded from receiving the Re-establishment Grant if they have received another industry exit payment, for example an exit grant under the Exceptional Circumstances Exit Package, or the Farm Help Re-establishment Grant or the Rural Adjustment Scheme Re-establishment Grant.

[27]      See Westpac Banking Corporation, Submission 28, p. 3.

[28]      Primary Industries Ministeral Forum, Communique, 29 February 2008, p. 2, available at http://www.daff.gov.au/__data/assets/word_doc/0004/576643/communiquefeb.doc (accessed 16 July 2008).

[29]      The Hon. Tony Burke, MP, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, 'Drought policy for Australia's future', Media Release DAFF08/046B, 23 April 2008, available at http://www.maff.gov.au/media/media_releases/april_2008/drought_policy_for_australias_future (accessed 16 July 2008).

[30]      National Review of Drought Policy, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website, http://www.daff.gov.au/agriculture-food/drought/national_review_of_drought_policy (accessed 16 July 2008).

[31]      The Hon. Tony Burke, MP, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, 'Drought policy for Australia's future', Media Release DAFF08/046B, 23 April 2008, available at http://www.maff.gov.au/media/media_releases/april_2008/drought_policy_for_australias_future (accessed 16 July 2008).

[32]      Growcom, Submission 31, p. 13; NFF, Submission 24, p. 6.

[33]      Submission 32, p. 28.

[34]      Submission 30, p. 14. See also: the Agricultural Alliance on Climate Change, Submission 37, pp 19-20.

[35]      Submission 15, p. 2. See also Primary Industries and Natural Resources Curriculum Centre TAFE NSW, Submission 4, p. 2.

[36]      Submission 37, p. 20.

[37]      Submission 31, p. 13.

[38]      Submission 15, p. 2. See also: The Australia Institute, Submission 21, extracted from The Australia Institute, Taxpayers Soaked, Newsletter no. 43, June 2005; Agricultural Alliance on Climate Change, Submission 37, p. 19; Apple and Pear Limited, Submission 23, pp 7-8.

[39]      Mr Ben Fargher, Chief Executive Officer, NFF, Committee Hansard, 1 July 2008, p. 34.

[40]      Submission 31, p. 13.

[41]      Submission 31, p. 13.

[42]      Submission 36, p. 6.

[43]      Submission 30, p. 15. See also WA Department of Water, Submission 27, pp 2-3.

[44]      Submission 37, p. 19.

[45]      Submission 41, p. 13.

[46]      Submission 41, p. 30.

[47]      Submission 6, pp 4-5.

[48]      Submission 24, p. 8.

[49]      Submission 24, p. 8.

[50]      Submission 30, p. 14.

[51]      See Mr Ben Faragher, CEO of the NFF, Committee Hansard, 1 July 2008, p. 37; Queensland Government, Submission 30, p. 14.

[52]      Submission 36, p. 6.

[53]      Submission 32, p. 31.

[54]      The Australia Institute, Submission 21, see The Australia Institute, Taxpayers Soaked, Newsletter no. 43, June 2005.