RURAL WOMEN
The Government acknowledges that many farm businesses,
community services and town-based enterprises are dependent
upon the hard work and dedication of women in rural
and regional Australia. The Government has implemented
a number of specific and broad-based measures that
will benefit women as individuals, and as members of
rural families and communities.
National
FORUM on Women in Agriculture and Resource Management
In March 1997 the Federal Government, together with
the State and Territory Governments, provided funding
for the National Forum on Women in Agriculture and
Resource Management. The Forum was convened to recognise
and support women's current and potential contribution
to increased competitiveness and innovation in agriculture
and sustainable natural resource management. Rural
women and men, industry and government recognise that
there is an urgent need for the rural sector to be
in a position to capitalise on the diversity of skills
and experience that exists in the sector to more effectively
bring about profitable and sustainable primary industries
and viable rural communities.
Development
of a National Action Plan
To ensure that the Forum has long term strategic outcomes
for the sector and rural women, a National Action Plan
will be developed. All major stakeholders in agriculture
and resource management will have the opportunity to
provide input to the Plan. It is envisaged that the
guidelines within the National Action Plan will be
implemented with organisations throughout the sector
over a period of five years.
Integrated
Rural Policy Package
Recommendations from a number of reviews have led to
the realisation that current rural programmes require
restructuring. Uncommitted funds from the Rural Communities
Access Programme and the Rural Adjustment Scheme will
be redirected to initiatives for the rural sector to
be included in a new Integrated Rural Policy Package.
This will be developed in close consultation with the
industry, rural women and other stakeholders. The Integrated
Rural Package will draw together the Government's response
to a number of policy reviews and will address rural
adjustment, drought, farm family welfare, risk management,
farmer education and training and rural community development.
The objective is to promote a self-reliant productive
rural sector supported by targeted Government measures
which focus on building of skills and capacity of rural
industries and communities to manage effectively in
an uncertain environment. For example, a key recommendation
from the National Forum on Women in Agriculture and
Resource Management was the need for rural women to
have greater access to leadership courses. This recommendation
in particular will be considered in the context of
the development of a new Integrated Rural Policy Package.
The Business Plan for Australian Agriculture will be
used as a basis for consultation with stakeholders
on the development of the Integrated Rural Policy Package.
The Business Plan will outline a broad vision for the
sector and set goals for the next decade, based on
reforms which must be achieved if Australian agriculture
is to improve its international competitiveness and
realise its significant growth potential. The Business
Plan will also identify the roles and responsibilities
for industry and other stakeholders, including Government,
in creating an environment in which Australian agriculture
will prosper in the twenty first century.
Funding in this Budget for the package will be some
$199 million over four years. The Minister for Primary
Industries and Energy, the Hon John Anderson MP, will
be consulting with his state colleagues, farm groups,
rural women and other stakeholders during 1997 to finalise
the details as part of the package which will be announced
in the second half of 1997.
Rural Women's Unit
The Government's commitment to increasing rural women's
opportunities for input to policy making is demonstrated
by its support of the Rural Women's Unit (RWU) in the
Department of Primary Industries and Energy (DPIE).
The Unit provides an important link between the Commonwealth
Government and women in rural Australia.
