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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/21/budget-cuts-landcare-groups-face-bleak-future-around-australia
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| Budget cuts: Landcare groups face bleak future around Australia | Budget cuts: Landcare groups face bleak future around Australia |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Many Landcare groups across the country are likely to disband and the future of the agriculture minister’s advisory group, the Australian Landcare Council, is in doubt as a result of budget cuts. | Many Landcare groups across the country are likely to disband and the future of the agriculture minister’s advisory group, the Australian Landcare Council, is in doubt as a result of budget cuts. |
| Leading Landcare identities on Wednesday slammed the cuts as a “broken promise” and said a plan to replace it with a “green army” could not replicate the work done by skilled volunteer community groups. | Leading Landcare identities on Wednesday slammed the cuts as a “broken promise” and said a plan to replace it with a “green army” could not replicate the work done by skilled volunteer community groups. |
| The chief executive officer of Little River Landcare, Pip Job, who was awarded the 2014 NSW rural women of the year, will lose her job after November as a result of the commonwealth cuts. | The chief executive officer of Little River Landcare, Pip Job, who was awarded the 2014 NSW rural women of the year, will lose her job after November as a result of the commonwealth cuts. |
| “What is disappointing is that a promise was made and it was broken. If there was no intention to keep the promise, don’t make it,” she said. | “What is disappointing is that a promise was made and it was broken. If there was no intention to keep the promise, don’t make it,” she said. |
| There are currently only four of 21 members of the the ALC, which was set up to advise the agriculture minister on “aspects of landcare and natural resource management consistent with the principles of ecologically sustainable development”. | |
| The ALC has not been active during the 2013-2014 financial year and a spokesman for the agriculture minister, Barnaby Joyce, said the advisory group, which costs about $500,000 when operating, was also inactive during 2008-09 under the previous government. | |
| Joyce said the government had reaffirmed its commitment to landcare in the budget by providing $1bn in support, though that includes $525m for the green army. | |
| "I am working with the minister for the environment to finalise the design and implementation of the National Landcare Program," Joyce said. | |
| "The new program will be built on the principles of simple, local and long term with an emphasis on on-ground delivery. The future of the ALC will be considered as part of this process." | |
| Before the 2013 election, the environment minister, Greg Hunt, who is responsible for the environmental side of the program, promised there would be no cuts to Landcare and reaffirmed that commitment after the election. | |
| However, last week the program was cut by $484m over five years. Landcare was merged with Caring for our Country to create a $1bn National Landcare Program, but more than half of that money will go into the employment program known as the green army. | However, last week the program was cut by $484m over five years. Landcare was merged with Caring for our Country to create a $1bn National Landcare Program, but more than half of that money will go into the employment program known as the green army. |
| The change means land restoration work will be carried out by young, unskilled unemployed people instead of volunteer farmers and other community members. | The change means land restoration work will be carried out by young, unskilled unemployed people instead of volunteer farmers and other community members. |
| The first round of green army applications closed last month and 250 projects will be established across Australia to “provide employment and training” to 2,500 participants who will receive an “allowance” for their work. | The first round of green army applications closed last month and 250 projects will be established across Australia to “provide employment and training” to 2,500 participants who will receive an “allowance” for their work. |
| The government hopes to build the “army” to 15,000 by 2018 to focus on projects such as “restoring and protecting habitat, weeding, planting, cleaning up creeks and rivers and restoring cultural heritage places”. | The government hopes to build the “army” to 15,000 by 2018 to focus on projects such as “restoring and protecting habitat, weeding, planting, cleaning up creeks and rivers and restoring cultural heritage places”. |
| Hunt said the participants could gain a certificate or qualifications in areas such as land management, park management, landscaping or horticulture. | Hunt said the participants could gain a certificate or qualifications in areas such as land management, park management, landscaping or horticulture. |
| Lynne Strong, a winner of the Bob Hawke Landcare Award and a member of the Australian Landcare Council, said people were “living in a fantasy world” if they thought the green army could replace Landcare. | Lynne Strong, a winner of the Bob Hawke Landcare Award and a member of the Australian Landcare Council, said people were “living in a fantasy world” if they thought the green army could replace Landcare. |
| “Green army is a job-creation scheme. Who are the mentors? They are paying people to replace volunteers. Who will continue the work? They will need about four OHS [occupational health and safety] officers watching over things. People are living in a fantasy world.” | “Green army is a job-creation scheme. Who are the mentors? They are paying people to replace volunteers. Who will continue the work? They will need about four OHS [occupational health and safety] officers watching over things. People are living in a fantasy world.” |
| Strong is one of only four of the 21 members left on Australian Landcare Council, which was set up to advise the agriculture minister on “aspects of land care and natural resource management consistent with the principles of ecologically sustainable development”. | Strong is one of only four of the 21 members left on Australian Landcare Council, which was set up to advise the agriculture minister on “aspects of land care and natural resource management consistent with the principles of ecologically sustainable development”. |
| A spokesman for the agriculture minister, Barnaby Joyce, has been contacted to confirm its future. | A spokesman for the agriculture minister, Barnaby Joyce, has been contacted to confirm its future. |
| Strong said she could not comment on the future of the advisory body, but said the Landcare program had been undervalued. | Strong said she could not comment on the future of the advisory body, but said the Landcare program had been undervalued. |
| “Just like the savage cuts to the health budget, the health of the landscape is also important,” said Strong. “For the small amount of money, Landcare provides a holistic approach to the environment.” | “Just like the savage cuts to the health budget, the health of the landscape is also important,” said Strong. “For the small amount of money, Landcare provides a holistic approach to the environment.” |
| Pip Job said the issue with the green army was that farmers and community members had skills such as fencing, chainsaw operations and landcare knowledge, which was hard to replace. | Pip Job said the issue with the green army was that farmers and community members had skills such as fencing, chainsaw operations and landcare knowledge, which was hard to replace. |
| “Since the budget there has been a real deflation of energy in Landcare,” said Job. “We try so hard and it is hard to keep volunteers motivated, we have had a lot of uncertainty with changes at the New South Wales level and now we are copping it from the feds. | “Since the budget there has been a real deflation of energy in Landcare,” said Job. “We try so hard and it is hard to keep volunteers motivated, we have had a lot of uncertainty with changes at the New South Wales level and now we are copping it from the feds. |
| “The next 12 months will be challenging and we will see a lot of groups simply close down.” | “The next 12 months will be challenging and we will see a lot of groups simply close down.” |