Ten year Australian drought is officially over: May 2012

From May 1, 2012, Australia will be drought-free for the first time in over a decade. On April 30 the Federal Government announced the end of the drought and revealed plans to withdraw an interest rate subsidy scheme put in place for farmers during the dry period. The official end of the “Big Dry” was declared when the remaining two regions, Bundarra and Eurobodalla in New South Wales, were free of drought.

Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig said he is working with states and territories to establish a new drought policy. However, the farm lobbyists criticize the move, because they say financial support shouldn’t be cancelled until the new drought policy is launched (Canberra Times, April 30).

Scientists and hydrologists also say Australians shouldn’t become complacent, especially those living in the south-east. They maintain that future droughts may become more severe and more frequent. Scientists at CSIRO, the national science agency, indicate that Australia’s extreme droughts and floods are due to the El Nino and La Nino climate cycles.

The Australian government has a water management plan which aims to ensure that water will be available in times of future drought. The plan will be reviewed in 2015.

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