Food security and the competitiveness and sustainability of agricultural industries in an increasingly land and resource limited world are crucial issues for Australian policy-makers. Australia is also home to world-leading plant science, but how can this connect with and inform policy?

 This workshop will focus on plant photosynthesis, explaining and highlighting ANU expertise for increasing plant productivity and its relevance to government. It will bring together researchers and policy-makers to strengthen mutual understanding and to explore issues of both 'science for policy' - the ways in which breakthrough scientific research can contribute to ongoing policy development - and 'policy for science' - the role of government in supporting science and technological innovation to realise its potential and most effectively achieve desired societal outcomes.

Governing for sustainability creates challenges for governments and communities in seeking to harmonise and integrate social, economic and environmental imperatives.  This seminar presents the findings of a recent PhD study which examined ways of governing for coherence and sustainability in a regional context in the Australian Federal Government policy framework.  The time frame of the study is post World War II (WWII) with a specific focus on the period 1996 to 2007.  Desk-based research, in-depth interviews, focus groups and the two case studies of New South Wales and the Riverina region were used to examine both policy and operational regional governance.  Experience from the United Kingdom and the European Union were also examined and analysed.  The contribution the study makes is a model of policy coherence.  Horizontal and vertical joined up government approaches are incorporated and the model offers the potential of a nationally consistent approach to regional governance in Australia.

Four degrees or more: Agriculture in a much warmer world

Presented by Dr Mark Howden (CSIRO) and Professor Peter Grace (Queensland University of Technology)

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If the pledges made by world leaders at the Copenhagen climate summit to cut emissions are honoured, we can expect an average warming of four degrees or more. So what might Australian agriculture look like then?

Mark Howden will present a condensed version of his presentation from the Four Degrees or More Conference, detailing the impacts of an average temperature increase of four degrees on the Australian agriculture industry, and the research and policy implications of such a scenario.

Peter Grace will then outline some of the mitigation challenges that would face the agricultural industry under a scenario of four degrees of warming, particularly around the carbon sequestration limitations of agricultural soils in a warmer, drier climate.

The presentations will be followed by an open Q&A session with both presenters.

To help address the skills and general labour shortage in Northern Inland NSW, a leading Australian expert on migration laws, policies and processes will soon be touring the region. Michael Jeremy will be bringing communities up to speed on new migration rules and regulations, which arrive with the new financial year.

Regional Development Australia (RDA) Northern Inland is responsible for the visit, with funding support from Industry and Investment NSW. This is just one way that RDA Northern Inland is working to support economic development by providing the region with free access to legal migration advice.

Beginning on Monday, 23 May, RDA Northern Inland will be staging a week of immigration law seminars around the region from 6pm - 8pm at the following venues; Best Western Sanctuary Inn, Tamworth, Monday 23^rd; Country Comfort Armidale, Tuesday 24^th; Riverside Function Centre, Inverell, Wednesday 25^th ; and Moree Services Club, Thursday 26^th.

Michael Jeremy has worked in varying immigration capacities since the mid-1990’s including the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Sydney Airport (Border Security), & the Migration Institute of Australia. Currently he travels around the country lecturing in immigration law, specifically relating to skilled migration and students.

Significant changes are being made to the points test for general skilled migration and the entire employer nomination system. The Student Visa Review and the Business Skills Review are also happening now.

RSVP by email to KHastings@rdani.org.au