Delivering Ag2030

The government is strengthening agricultural ties with major and emerging export markets, and we are making it easier to do business. This will deliver new trade and market access for producers, while also reducing red tape.

Key actions:

• providing $15 million to step up Australia’s leadership in international agriculture and food policy discussions shaping the global agricultural trade environment
• delivering $9 million to support expanded access to agricultural and veterinary chemicals
• investing $72.7 million through the Agri-Business Expansion Initiative, to support industry expand and diversify access to export markets
• supporting Australian exporters and business with a stronger overseas presence, sharing market intelligence gathered by Australia’s overseas network about the challenges and opportunities of overseas markets, and increasing contribution to global efforts to reform the World Trade Organization and enhancing Australia’s advocacy and cooperation with international partners
• continuing progress towards the Simplified Trade System, to modernise and improve Australia’s trade system, including reviewing and reforming regulatory processes and ICT systems, to reduce regulatory costs and facilitate trade
• continuing major reforms under the $328.4 million Busting Congestion for Agricultural Exporters package, which will modernise and streamline Australia’s export system
• extending the International Freight Assistance Mechanism (IFAM) to 30 September 2021, taking the government’s total IFAM investment to $781.8 million
• finalising free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with the European Union and United Kingdom and getting the most out of existing agreements.
• continuing to support the export dairy industry via the $14.8 million Dairy Export Assurance Reforms project by raising export awareness, reducing red tape and streamlining audit arrangements.

For further information on agricultural trade initiatives the department is leading check out the Trade Reform factsheet.

The government is committed to safeguarding Australia from exotic pests and diseases which is critical to our market access, maintaining Australia’s clean and green reputation and means lower costs for our producers.

Key actions:

• committing $235.1 million to strengthen partnerships with importers, companies, producers and the community that will build our ability to detect and manage threats offshore and increase capacity to respond to incursions
• investing $80.9 million to build a modern, effective biosecurity system that is underpinned by the right technology and analytical capabilities
• delivering $84.1 million for the frontline of our fight to prevent pests and diseases coming to Australia from overseas, including more on-the-ground resources to target known and emerging threats, like African swine fever.

For further information on biosecurity initiatives the department is leading check out the Biosecurity factsheet.

The government is ensuring Australian farmers are rewarded for their stewardship of land and water.

Key actions:

• providing $22.3 million to conduct scientifically robust on-ground trials to test methods to reward farmers for improving native vegetation through the Enhancing Remnant Vegetation Pilot
• providing $5.4 million to implement the Australian Farm Biodiversity Certification Scheme, to provide a credible, independent assessment of how farmers are protecting biodiversity
• providing $4.4 million for the development of a biodiversity trading platform
• committing $214.9 million to implement the National Soil Strategy and associated measures, including piloting the National Soil Monitoring and Incentives Pilot program, establishing a National Soil Science Challenge grants program to address gaps in soil knowledge, developing a new education accreditation in soil science and establishing the Food Waste for Healthy Soils Fund.
• providing $1.2 billion over ten years to create a technology co-investment facility to support the development of priority technologies, including regional hydrogen hubs, carbon capture, use and storage technologies, very low-cost soil carbon measurement and new agricultural feed technologies
• continuing to support and reward stewardship through the Agriculture Biodiversity Stewardship Pilot Package valued at $34 million over four years (2018-19 to 2022-23)
• continuing to support natural resource management, sustainable agriculture and to protect Australia’s biodiversity via the National Landcare Program worth $1.1 billion and being delivered over seven years (2017-18 to 2022-23).

For further information on agricultural stewardship initiatives the department is leading check these factsheets on Stewardship factsheet and the National Soil Strategy.

The government is ensuring that we have fair, strong and resilient supply chains, putting in place the frameworks so that everyone in the supply chain is treated fairly and pays their share.

Key actions:

• committing $5.4 million to improve market transparency by taking action on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Perishable Agricultural Goods Inquiry
• continuing to implement the $1.5 billion Modern Manufacturing Strategy, with the Food and Beverage Road Map released in March 2021 – one of six National Manufacturing Priority road maps now published - with Round 1 Food and Beverage priority grants to be allocated
• investing $107.2 million in the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative to address vulnerabilities in critical supply chains as part of the Modern Manufacturing Strategy
• improving supply chain competition and fairness through codes of conduct for Dairy, Wheat Port, Sugar and Horticulture
• adopting a whole-of-government framework for identifying and mitigating critical supply chain risks.
• strengthening unfair contract term protections in Australian consumer Law, including making unfair contract terms unlawful, and expanding the definition of small business to increase eligibility.

The government is supporting Australian farmers, rural and regional communities with infrastructure when and where it is needed.

Key actions:

• providing $1.5 billion to continue efforts to achieve a sustainable and certain future for the Murray-Darling Basin
• providing $348 million to support regional Australia’s sustainability, resilience and job creation including investment in community infrastructure and support the delivery of reliable, affordable and innovative digital services
• investing $3.5 million for an expert panel to develop a phased road map for water market reform
• extending the $100 million On-Farm Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate Scheme to 30 June 2022
• investing $3.5 billion in water infrastructure through the National Water Grid Fund
• investing over $5 billion in freight and regional roads across every state and territory
• providing an additional $28.6 million to deliver initiatives as part of the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy.
• delivering on its commitment of $380 million to the Mobile Black Spot Program with Round 6 expected to open shortly 
• providing $189.6 million to support the next Five-Year Plan for Northern Australia
• investing in our digital economy, including opportunities for regional Australia agricultural businesses, by providing $1.2 billion for the Digital Economy Strategy
• continuing to improve communications for the agriculture sector through the $22.1 million Australian 5G Innovation Initiative and the $30.3 million Regional Connectivity Program
• supporting the continued delivery of the Inland Rail project by 2025
• continued delivery of the Regional Policy Package, including $100 million for Regional Recovery Partnerships (2020-21 to 2021-22),  to support recovery and growth in 10 priority investment regions
• continued upgrade of the National Broadband Network via the $4.5 billion network investment plan.

The government is modernising Australia’s agricultural innovation system to drive improvements in collaboration, commercialisation and uptake to grow productivity and competitiveness.

Key actions:

• building with an initial $1.5 million to develop investment strategies, the National Agricultural Innovation Agenda by developing a National Agricultural Innovation Policy Statement
• providing $11.9 million to support innovation in the forestry sector, including extending the existing nine Regional Forestry Hubs and creating two new Hubs
• committing $20.1 million towards fisheries deregulation through technological innovation to boost productivity and competitiveness
• continuing to streamline and modernise the agricultural levies legislation (2020-21 to 2024-25).

The government is making sure people and their communities, right across the agriculture industry and supply chain, have the support, infrastructure, and skills to do their jobs.

Key actions:

• providing $25.2 million in new funding for AgATTRACT, to shift perceptions of modern agriculture and recognise its diverse career opportunities, including:
  • piloting AgCAREERSTART to give school leavers a way to experience working in agriculture
  • providing more opportunities for upskilling and career progression with AgUP grants
• committing $4.6 million to AgFAIR to improve workforce management and planning, and to create attractive, fair and safe working conditions
• providing $2.6 million to expand the Career Revive program to support more medium to large regional businesses attract and retain women returning to work after a career break
• committing $26.1 million to assist 5,000 additional short course places in 2021
• helping eligible job seekers temporarily relocate for agricultural work under AgMove
• supporting a fair and attractive workforce by helping small businesses meet modern award obligations through Employment Contract Tools and the Employer Advisory Service
• amending the Migration Act to strengthen protections for workers against exploitation
• enhancing primary care, health workforce and mental health services, including digital mental health services, to support small business owners and regional Australians
• supporting primary producers and small businesses affected by disasters, under Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements
• waiving farm business income reconciliation debts incurred by the Farm Household Allowance up to 2019-20
• extending the instant asset write-off to June 2023 to allow farmers to immediately deduct the full cost of eligible depreciable assets
• continuing to support the forestry sector recover and rebuild from the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires through the $40 million Forestry Recovery Development Fund Program (2020-21 to 2022-23).
• will continue to provide $100 million from the Future Drought Fund each year in arrangements or grants to build drought preparedness and resilience.

For further information on human capital initiatives the department is leading check out the factsheets Improving agricultural employment opportunities factsheet and Future Drought Fund.