ACF welcomes report’s ‘no food bowl’ finding
Date: 8-Feb-2010
Northern Australia can have a strong economic future, but it will not come from inappropriate large scale agricultural development, the Australian Conservation Foundation said while welcoming the Northern Australia Land & Water Taskforce report.
“Despite several failed attempts in the Northern Territory and the Kimberley, ideas about northern Australia becoming a new agricultural frontier have persisted for decades,” said ACF executive director Don Henry.
“This long-awaited report confirms that while northern Australia has some areas with soils suitable for agriculture, the rainfall is insufficient to overcome the hot dry conditions that prevail for most of year.
“Expanding agriculture would be a major threat to the globally unique natural and cultural features of the region.
“Northern Australia’s rich biodiversity and strong Indigenous cultures are world renowned and should form the basis for sustainable economic development across the region.
“There can be a strong economic and conservation future for northern Australia, but it will lie in the development of industries that are well suited to the region, such as tourism and good management of fisheries and land.
“ACF believes a sustainable future, particularly for Indigenous communities, lies in increased opportunities in these industries.
“We call on the federal government to respond to the report’s recommendations by strengthening the National Water Initiative and establishing a body, comprising scientists, Indigenous people, conservationists and the wider community, to oversee sustainable development in the north.”