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| National Drought Agreement | |
|---|---|
| Name | National Drought Agreement |
| Type | Intergovernmental agreement |
| Date signed | 2013 |
| Parties | Commonwealth of Australia; States and Territories of Australia |
| Status | In force |
National Drought Agreement The National Drought Agreement is an Australian intergovernmental accord establishing coordinated approaches to drought resilience, preparedness, response and recovery across the Commonwealth of Australia, the New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory governments. It connects national policy settings from the Council of Australian Governments with regional and local implementation driven by agencies such as the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, rural industry organisations like the National Farmers' Federation, and research institutions including the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation.
The Agreement sets out shared aims for drought preparedness, risk management, and recovery, aligning with national frameworks such as the Australian National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework and informing programs administered by bodies like the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences and the Australian Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. It frames coordination among ministerial councils including the Agricultural Ministers' Forum and regional entities such as the Murray–Darling Basin Authority while interfacing with community groups, industry councils, and research partners like the Australian National University and the University of Melbourne.
Origins trace to long-standing drought events affecting areas from the Murray–Darling Basin to the Pilbara and episodes such as the.[Great Eastern Droughts|Great Eastern Droughts and the 2000s millennium drought, prompting reviews by bodies including the Productivity Commission (Australia) and reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Intergovernmental negotiations following ministerial inquiries, commissioned by the Council of Australian Governments and influenced by submissions from the Australian Conservation Foundation, the National Farmers' Federation, and state departments, culminated in the Agreement signed in 2013. Subsequent national responses to events like the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season and climatic assessments by the Bureau of Meteorology have driven reviews and updates to related policy instruments.
The Agreement articulates objectives to improve preparedness, enhance resilience, and support recovery for communities impacted in regions including the Riverina, Sunraysia, and South West Queensland. Principles embedded draw upon risk management models from the World Meteorological Organization, resilience frameworks promoted by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, and adaptive capacity concepts used by institutions such as the Australian Red Cross and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. It emphasises collaborative planning across entities like state departments of primary industries, local governments such as the City of Griffith, and industry bodies including the Australian Dairy Farmers and the Grains Research and Development Corporation.
Implementation mechanisms rely on governance arrangements linking the Council of Australian Governments and the Agricultural Ministers' Forum with state and territory counterparts, regional committees, and local implementation partners such as the Local Government Association of Queensland and the NSW Farmers' Association. Performance monitoring draws on indicators from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and scenario modelling by the Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO, while emergency management coordination connects with the Attorney-General's Department and state emergency services such as the NSW SES.
Financial and programmatic support under the Agreement interfaces with national instruments including budget allocations through the Australian Treasury and targeted programs delivered by the DAFF. Funding coordination involves state treasuries, regional development agencies like the Regional Development Australia network, and industry support channels such as grants from the National Landcare Program and research funding from the Australian Research Council. Recovery assistance models draw on precedents from disaster relief schemes administered by the Australian Taxation Office and state relief funds.
Stakeholders encompass federal agencies (e.g., DAFF, Bureau of Meteorology), state departments (e.g., NSW Department of Primary Industries), industry organisations (e.g., National Farmers' Federation, Australian Wool Innovation), community groups (e.g., Australian Red Cross), research institutions (e.g., CSIRO, Australian National University), and local governments (e.g., City of Melbourne). Roles include policy development, service delivery, research, and on-ground support, coordinated through forums such as the Agricultural Ministers' Forum and regional drought committees.
The Agreement has influenced national coordination of drought policy, informed programs benefiting regions like the Murray–Darling Basin and South West Queensland, and supported collaborative research between agencies including CSIRO and universities. Evaluations by entities like the Productivity Commission and submissions from stakeholders such as the Australian Conservation Foundation have highlighted strengths in coordination while critiquing gaps in funding adequacy, indicators of resilience, and integration with climate adaptation strategies advocated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Debates continue among policymakers, industry groups like the National Farmers' Federation, environmental organisations, and researchers over the balance between relief measures and long‑term structural resilience initiatives.
Category:Australian agreements