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Response on Draft Murray-Darling Basin Plan
From the National President, Mike Stephens
The Ag Institute submission prepared for the Senate Inquiry into agricultural tertiary education paints a bleak future for the sector unless there is some drastic action this time round.
The striking point made in the submission, ably compiled by national board member and immediate past president Geoff Thomas, is that all the talk in the world is just so much hot air.
This crisis has been years in the making and a string of previous inquiries have sounded alarm bells which have been largely ignored.
Will it be any different this time?
While history suggests not, we can but hope that the excellent points brought out in our concise submission and all the other contributions to this inquiry don’t get pigeonholed away and forgotten.
That will be the challenge for the Institute and its members as the Senate Inquiry enters the public hearings stage – to galvanise some action before it is too late.
You can download here:-
The AIAST National President, Mr Geoff Thomas, recently presented the House of Representatives Standign Committee on Regional Australia Inquiry with the AIAST's response into the impact of the Murray-Darling Plan in regional Australia.
The response outlines issues including:
» Read the Full AIAST Submission 
here.
The Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology (AIAST) as the peak body representing agricultural professionals and natural resource managers in Australia strongly supports the current Research Corporation Model and the joint industry/Commonwealth funding formula. This view is based on the strength joint contributions to generate both private and public good outcomes.
AIAST recognises the proven importance of research, development and extension in the growth in productivity of the sector, not only in terms of its benefit to the economy but the critical role agriculture does and will continue to play in the health of the economy, managing natural resources, adjusting to climate change, sustaining rural communities, and in Australia playing its part in feeding a rapidly growing world population.
AIAST is therefore very concerned with the recent cuts by governments to RD&E investment, especially given that the industry and private sectors do not have the capacity to fill the gaps.
» Please read the full AIAST Submission
» Please read the AIAST Response to the Productivity Commission Draft Report
The AIAST has provided the following submission for the Inquiry into the Role of Government in Assisting Farmers Adapt to the Impact of Climate Change. To view the submission click here .
Recently the Excellence in Reserach for Australia (ERA) Initiative was launched and the AIAST has submitted comments to this review. To view the Institutes position click on the below link. AIAST ERA Submission .
The AIAST provided a submission to the Quarantine and Biosecurity Review on the 21 April 2008. Click on the link to view the submission - AIAST Quarantine and Biosecurity Submission .
The AIAST provided a submission to the Innovation Review on the 16 April 2008.
» AIAST Innovation Review Submission .
Please click on the below links to view AIAST GM Submissions;
» GM Submission Victoria
» GM Submission NSW
» GM Submission SA
The Federation has 56 member societies with its main purpose to:
* Act as a voice for the scientific community to government and bureaucracy
* Articulate and promote policy issues
* Communicate issues to stakeholders
The Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology has been a member of FASTS since 2001. The Institute is the only member of the Agricultural and Food Science cluster.
» National Innovation Systems Review
» VenturousAustralia - an overview
» FASTS - Outcomes from the Rights & Responsibilities of Scientists forum
» FASTS Submission - House of Reps. Standing Committee on Innovation, Science & Indusrty Inquiry into Higher Degree Research Issues.
» Higher Education Endowment Fund Submission
» FASTS - Higher Degree research and related matters submission
