COMMUNIQUE

27 November 2014

The inaugural meeting of the National Landcare Advisory Committee was held in Canberra on Thursday, 27 November 2014.

Members of the Committee met for the first time following their formal appointment on 19September 2014, to discuss their role in implementing the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme.

The meeting, chaired by Ms Sue Middleton, focussed on understanding the Committee’s role and Terms of Reference, gaining a clearer understanding of the strategic context of the National Landcare Programme, and setting a work plan for the Committee.

Members also had the opportunity to meet the Natural Heritage Ministerial Board which they are accountable to. The Board comprises the Minister for the Environment and the Minister for Agriculture.

Role and Terms of Reference

Members discussed the Terms of Reference set by the Natural Heritage Ministerial Board and the Committee’s role in providing advice on the development and implementation of the National Landcare Programme.

The National Landcare Programme was announced on 19 September 2014, following public consultation, including community information sessions across Australia.

The Committee noted that although it was established after the design parameters of the programme were set, there is a key role for it to play in relation to the programme’s ongoing implementation. In particular, the Committee considered there was value in identifying opportunities for further business improvement and reform, and in improving the communication around the benefits of landcare and natural resource management for a range of different sectors and stakeholders. This is consistent with the Government’s deregulation agenda and the three core principles which shaped the design of the programme: simple, local, long-term.

Strategic context

Officials from the Department of the Environment and the Department of Agriculture attended the meeting and provided members with an overview of the strategic context of the National Landcare Programme, as well as some insight into the current priorities of the Departments and their respective Ministers.

The Committee heard that the National Landcare Programme is a key component of the Government’s $2billion investment in natural resource management. The National Landcare Programme, which consists of a regional stream and a national stream, will invest $1billion to address environmental and sustainable agriculture issues. The remaining $1billion is invested in complementary initiatives such as the Reef2050Plan, the Green Army Programme and Working on Country (now part of the Indigenous Advancement Strategy being implemented by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet).

Members gained valuable insight from discussions with the Departmental officials which assisted them in their discussion around setting the Committee’s forward work plan.

Forward work plan

Members identified five key theme areas they could provide advice to the Natural Heritage Ministerial Board on, which they considered would have the greatest impact and benefits for the future of the National Landcare Programme.

Measuring impacts and value for money –clearly defining the value of the programme and its investment to a broad range of stakeholders and sectors.

Telling the story – increasing recognition of the landcare ‘brand’ and the value it brings to all Australians and sectors.

Leveraging private investment – increasing co-investment to deliver greater outcomes from programme investments.

Measuring performance – demonstrating achievements in efficiency and reform and testing programme principles of simple, local and long-term.

Building adaptive capacity – examining Landcare’s role and link to other investment and policy areas of Government and community.

The Committee will work over the coming weeks to finalise its work plan, in consultation with the Natural Heritage Ministerial Board.

Meeting with the Board

Following the conclusion of the meeting, members visited Parliament House where they met with Ministers Hunt and Joyce.

The Chair led a brief discussion with Ministers around their five key theme areas that will form their forward work plan.

About the Committee

The National Landcare Advisory Committee was established on 19September 2014 to advise the Natural Heritage Ministerial Board, comprised of the Minister for the Environment, the HonGreg Hunt MP, and the Minister for Agriculture, the Hon Barnaby Joyce MP, on the development and implementation of the National Landcare Programme.

Members are appointed for a 12 month term.

Members

  • MsSueMiddleton(Chair)
  • MsJuanitaHamparsum (Deputy Chair)
  • DrRonEdwards
  • MrJamesMcKee
  • MsCathyPhelps
  • MrDavidWalker
  • MsMelissaGeorge
  • MrCameronO’Neil
  • MsTessaJakszewicz
  • MrAllanWilliams

Further information can be found at

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