STATEMENT BY THE ACTING PRIME MINISTER, THE HON BRIAN HOWE MP
LAND MANAGEMENT TASK FORCE
In November the Prime Minister announced the Government's intention to
establish a Land Management Task Force to investigate ways to improve the
adoption and use of property management plans for the farm sector. Today I
announce the membership of that Task Force.
The Task Force will comprise representatives from the farm sector, the
financial institutions, experts in the areas of Landcare and farm management
and from State and Federal Governments.
I am pleased that the Government has been able to draw together people
with a wide range of experience and expertise to serve on the Task Force.
The Task Force will report directly to the Prime Minister and will be chaired
by his Senior Economic Adviser, Dr Ric Simes. The full membership is set
out below.
The Commonwealth considers the increased use of property management
planning will achieve greater integration of economic, ecological and regional
decision making by the farm sector.
The terms of reference for the Task Force are:
1 Examine the extent of property management planning and
implementation and identify options for improving adoption;
2. Investigate the scope of property managiemenit-ptannfingto-advance
sustainable production in Australian farming;
3. Identify means by which property management planning can assist in
the development of farm business strategies and operations;
4. Examine the scope for increased linkages between property
management planning and catchment based or regional plans;
Review the relationship between property management planning and
the provision of government programs and advise on options for
further integration where appropriate;
6. Examine the scope for financial institutions to incorporate property
management planning in assessments of long term farm viability and
lending practices.
Task Force membership:
Dr Ric Simes, Senior Economic Adviser to the Prime Minister,
Mr Jock Douglas, a Queensland farmer and Chairperson of the Queensland
Landcare Council,
Mr Alex Campbell a Western Australian farmer and Convenor of the National
Farmers Federation's Conservation Sub-Committee,
Mr Chris Shearer, National Australia Bank,
Mr Barry Buffier, Westpac Bank,
Mr Max Ormsby, General Manager, Financial Services, Elders,
Mr Noel Dawson, Executive Director of Land Use and Fisheries, Queensland
Department of Primary Industries,
Mr Peter Sutherland, Acting General Manager, Rural Policy and Marketing,
Victorian Department of Agriculture,
Ms Helen Alexander, National Landcare Facilitator,
Mr Noel Fitzpatrick, immediate past President of the Murray-Darling Basin
Commission, Mr Peter Huthwaite, President of the Australian Farm Management Society
and the Director of the Rural Management Development Centre at the
Queensland Institute of Technology,
Ms Sue Salmon,. Consultant -to. the Minister forthe-Environment. Sport and
Territories, Senator John Faulkner,
Mr Bernie Wonder, First Assistant Secretary Rural Division, Commonwealth
Department of Primary Industries and Energy.
Contact: Bill Nagle 277 7520
Tony Melville 277 7744
CANBERRA 11 January 1994