Parkes Phoenix Editor

Minister for Agriculture, David Littleproud has announced new programs which would see farmers receive incentives for a range of projects to improve biodiversity on farms, incorporating payment for carbon if appropriate.

A $30 million pilot Agriculture Biodiversity Stewardship Program would see farmers receive incentives for projects that boost biodiversity and also, if appropriate, absorb carbon. Projects such as maintaining or enhancing remnant forest, regeneration of gullies or waterways, or mixed species native tree plantings could be examples of projects.

Additionally, $4 million will go towards creating a national and internationally recognised biodiversity certification scheme to help biodiversity-friendly farmers get an extra premium for their product at the checkout and when they trade with other countries.

The NFF will help develop this certification scheme so farm groups have ownership of and invest in it.

“I’ve always thought farmers should see the benefits managing the biodiversity on their properties, and a market based system can become a drought-proof income stream for them,” said David.

“These programs will be trailed across different commodities and in different regions and if successful, I hope it will be expanded as national policy following the trial.

“An on-farm biodiversity policy and methodology will need to be developed and we’ll be consulting with Australian National University and farm groups on this.

“Farmers are already making money from carbon payments and in the future we could potentially see farmers receiving payment for both biodiversity and carbon benefits from the same project.

“This pilot program is not part of the Carbon Solutions Fund – this is a dedicated trial aimed at biodiversity, although of course projects will likely have a carbon benefit also which farmers deserve recognition for.

“Farmers should be rewarded for having plants and animals on their farm, not penalised through banning them using that land and offering no compensation,” said David.

Gift cards are increasingly the payment method of choice for scammers. Scamwatch reports show more than $5 million was lost in 2018, a 38 percent increase compared with 2017.

iTunes cards accounted for $3.1 million in losses – a 156 percent increase from the $1.23 million reported in 2017. However Scamwatch has also seen an increase in reports involving other gift cards such as Google Play, Amazon, and Steam cards, and Australia Post Load & Go prepaid debit cards.

Losses to scams where non-iTunes gift cards were used as payment increased by 530 percent in 2018 to around $1 million.

“It’s concerning that the scammers are now demanding payment in other forms of gift cards. This is likely in response to scam warnings about using iTunes cards for paying scammers that are in stores like supermarkets and on the cards themselves,” ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said.

Below some common types of scams involving

gift cards:

ATO impersonation scams: The scammer pretends to be from the Australian Taxation Office and claims there is a warrant for their victim’s arrest.

Catch-a-hacker scam: The scammer calls and pretends to be from a law-enforcement agency or internet provider and convinces the victim they are trying to trace the location of a hacker who has compromised the victim’s computer.

Victims are also tricked into giving up personal details with the promise of gift cards. Scammers entice victims to participate in surveys by promising gift cards as a prize; however the surveys extract personal information such as your name, date of birth, address details and even financial details like your credit card or bank numbers.

Iconic Australian eats with an Indigenous twist will be the inspiration behind the Grazing Down The Lachlan menu in 2019, with renowned Sydney chef O Tama Carey announced as this year’s Creative Director.

The 2019 Grazing program was officially launched on Tuesday, the annual foodie adventure making its return to Forbes on Saturday, 21st September.

Now in its third year, O Tama is set to deliver an exciting, fresh take on Grazing’s successful long lunch format, which attracted over 800 people to town in 2018.

Described as “one of Australia’s most intriguing chefs”, O Tama opened her highly anticipated hopper restaurant, Lankan Filling Station in Darlinghurst last year after years of pop-ups and market appearances.

O Tama’s first solo venture has certainly lived up to the hype – awarded a chef’s hat in The Sydney Morning Herald’s Good Food Guide 2019 after only four months trading. So, what can Grazers expect in 2019?

“Dishes that are tasty, familiar yet with a twist and which hopefully they can giggle at a little too”, O Tama hinted.

“I’m approaching the food like I would a menu in a restaurant, giving a balance of flavours to create something that’s appropriate for the setting, using local produce and native ingredients. This year, I’ll also be loosely basing some of the dishes around slightly daggy Australiana from my youth.”

Set alongside the picturesque Lachlan River, guests are free to wander along the designated corridor of the nine-mile reserve between seven stations offering delicious food with a matched beverage.

The ‘Meet Your Makers’ Q&A has been revamped, finding its new home at SYLO for 2019. Held on the Friday evening before Grazing, the Q&A provides guests with the opportunity to hear from the Creative Director and some of the local producers behind the event.