Driving structural adjustment: making better use of government initiatives | Environment Victoria

Driving structural adjustment: making better use of government initiatives

Structural adjustment is a continuous process which can be driven in a particular direction by government leadership and investment. The current rate of change in economic, social and environmental conditions demands significant leadership by government to speed up the adaptation process.

Numerous studies and reports show that policy and funding streams have tended to operate independently of each other and there has been little integration within or across different levels of government. For example, VicSuper has identified that its capacity to mobilise and effectively utilise the capital it needs for the Future Farming Landscapes Program, will be significantly influenced by the extent to which government policy, regulation and legislative arrangements are transparent and integrated to achieve multiple objectives. “Significant changes in government frameworks will be required to ensure significant changes in the way that Victorians use the land.” (82)

Consideration of the Productivity Commission’s recommendations on drought assistance provides Government with an opportunity to improve the integration of government policy so as to not only achieve ‘drought’-related objectives, (ie. Improving Australian agriculture’s resilience to drought), but also other environmental, social and economic objectives such as returning water to rivers and building resilient regional economies based on sustainable alternative industries. A vast array of government programs and initiatives aimed at building resilience exist, but at present they do not work together to help Australian agriculture adapt to the changing environmental and economic landscape of the 21st century.

Much greater interaction and integration is required to achieve multiple benefits and avoid unnecessary duplication (or working at cross-purposes). Government policies, programs and planning frameworks will need to be better integrated to provide a comprehensive structural adjustment package that supports farmers and communities to transition to alternative industries while achieving improved waterway health and biodiversity outcomes.

In the context of the ‘wicked’ problems that this paper discusses, it is crucially important that any action is truly ‘cross-government’ and departments talk to each other and to other jurisdictions, and develop a shared understanding of both issues and potential solutions.

Questions for discussion:

What are the key elements of a structural adjustment package to maintain viable rural communities and allow transition to other economic opportunities?

How can existing government programs and funding be better aligned and integrated to drive the kind of change required?

References

(82) Craig, D. (2007) VicSuper Submission to the ‘Land and biodiversity at a time of climate change’ consultation paper