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Key Knowledge: state and federal government regulations and policies affecting the sustainability of Australian agricultural and/or horticultural businesses: Environment Protection Authority Act 2017; Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004; Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994.
Key Knowledge: state and federal government regulations and policies affecting the sustainability of Australian agricultural and/or horticultural businesses: Environment Protection Authority Act 2017; Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004; Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994.
Photo by Nasser Eledroos on Unsplash
Why do agricultural and horticultural businesses need to comply with government regulations?
Why do agricultural and horticultural businesses need to comply with government regulations?
Australian agricultural and horticultural businesses operate within a range of laws and government policies designed to protect; people, the environment, agricultural land, water resources, biodiversity, workers and consumers.
These regulations encourage businesses to operate sustainably by balancing environmental, social and economic considerations.
Failure to comply with legislation can result in fines, prosecution, loss of accreditation and damage to a business's reputation.
Government legislation leads to businesses changing their practices which makes safer workplaces, healthier environments and protected natural resources this creates more sustainable agricultural production
Environment Protection Authority Act 2017 (Victoria)
Environment Protection Authority Act 2017 (Victoria)
IMPORTANT NOTE: In the current (2020) Study Design under Key Knowledge, the VCAA lists the "Environment Protection Authority Act 1970" as the act to study. However, in a Notice to Schools in September 2023, the VCAA announced that, from 2024, students undertaking VCE Agricultural and Horticultural Studies will study and be assessed against the Environmental Protection Act 2017.
Purpose
Purpose
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA Victoria) works to protect human health and the environment by regulating pollution and waste.
The legislation aims to reduce environmental harm caused by agricultural and horticultural activities.
How does this affect producers?
How does this affect producers?
Businesses must minimise environmental risks such as:
chemical runoff
contaminated water leaving the property
dust pollution
smoke
noise
waste disposal
fuel and chemical storage.
Many producers adopt improved management practices to prevent pollution before it occurs.
Example
Example
A dairy farm installs effluent ponds and carefully manages irrigation to prevent nutrient-rich runoff entering nearby waterways. (Remeber that this can lead to eutrophication?)
Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004
Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004
Purpose
Purpose
The Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act aims to protect the health, safety and welfare of people at work.
Agriculture is one of Australia's highest-risk industries, making workplace safety especially important.
How does this affect producers?
How does this affect producers?
Employers must provide a workplace that is as safe as reasonably practicable.
This includes:
maintaining machinery
providing safety training
using protective equipment
reducing manual handling risks
safely storing chemicals
managing livestock safely.
Workers also have responsibilities to follow safe work procedures.
Example
Example
Before operating a tractor, workers receive training and wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994
Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994
Purpose
Purpose
The Catchment and Land Protection (CaLP) Act protects Victoria's land and water resources.
It aims to promote sustainable land management and reduce land degradation.
How does this affect producers?
How does this affect producers?
Landholders have responsibilities to:
control declared pest plants
manage pest animals
reduce soil erosion
prevent land degradation
protect catchments
use land responsibly.
These actions help maintain productive farmland for future generations.
Example
Example
A grazing property establishes shelterbelts and fencing to reduce soil erosion and protect waterways.
PRACTICE
Quick Check
Quick Check
Question 1
Describe one way environmental legislation influences decisions made by a producer.
Question 2
Give one example of how the Occupational Health and Safety Act affects an agricultural business.
Question 3
Give one example of how the Occupational Health and Safety Act affects an agricultural business.
Comparing the Legislation
Comparing the Legislation
Photo by Nicholas Adams on Unsplash
Legislation: Environment Protection Authority Act 2017
Main focus: Pollution and environmental protection
Example on a farm: Managing chemical runoff and waste
Producer decisions: Because of the Act, a wheat farmer decides to:
check the weather forecast before applying fertiliser to reduce the risk of runoff
establish vegetated buffer strips beside waterways
safely store fuels and agricultural chemicals
dispose of chemical containers according to environmental regulations
regularly inspect irrigation systems to minimise water wastage and pollution due to runoff.
Photo by Stewart Munro on Unsplash
Legislation: Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004
Main focus: Worker health and safety
Example on a farm: Appropriate training for staff to use machinery safely (Make sure they are appropriate staff, too!)
Producer decisions: Because of the Act, a dairy farmer decides to:
install guards on machinery
provide PPE for workers
conduct large animal safety training
repeat safety training for new workers
NOT allow small children on tractors like in the photo 😊
Photo by Ries Bosch on Unsplash
Legislation: Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994
Main focus: Sustainable land management
Example on a farm: Controlling weeds and preventing erosion
Producer decisions: A sheep producer notices several patches of gorse and increasing soil erosion on their property. Because of the Act, they decide to:
implement an Integrated Weed Management program
establish ground cover to reduce soil erosion
fence off vulnerable creek banks to protect waterways
monitor the property regularly for new gorse infestations.
How the legislation works together
How the legislation works together
Although each Act has a different purpose, they often overlap.
For example, a producer storing agricultural chemicals correctly is:
protecting workers (OHS Act)
reducing pollution risk (Environment Protection legislation)
protecting land and waterways (Catchment and Land Protection Act).
Remember that sustainable farming often requires businesses to consider multiple pieces of legislation when making management decisions.
Mini Case study
Mini Case study
Establishing a new orchard
Establishing a new orchard
A grower plans to establish a new apple orchard.
To comply with legislation, they must:
safely train workers to operate machinery (Occupational Health and Safety Act)
prevent spray drift into neighbouring properties (Environment Protection legislation)
control invasive weeds on the property (Catchment and Land Protection Act).
By complying with these regulations, the orchard protects workers, the environment and long-term productivity.
Study Tip
Study Tip
Learn the purpose of the Acts to help you use the correct one for the scenario or question
Learn the purpose of the Acts to help you use the correct one for the scenario or question
Environment Protection
→ Protects the environment.
Occupational Health and Safety
→ Protects people.
Catchment and Land Protection
→ Protects land and natural resources.
Then ask yourself:
"How would this change the decisions a producer makes?"
That is what VCAA usually assesses.
One other tip you might try is to colour code the acts in your notes. Green for environmental protection, orange (like a safety vest) for OHS and brown for land protection.
Exam Tip
Exam Tip
When answering questions about legislation:
Name the legislation.
Explain its purpose.
Describe how it affects producer decisions.
Use an agricultural or horticultural example.
For example:
The Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 requires employers to provide a safe workplace. A vegetable producer may provide forklift training and require workers to wear high-visibility clothing, reducing the risk of workplace injury.
PRACTICE
Exam-style question (8 marks)
Exam-style question (8 marks)
An irrigated vegetable farm plans to expand production onto neighbouring land. Evaluate how government legislation may influence decisions made by the business refering to the 3 Acts in your answer.
Marking guide
Marking guide
Marks Expected response
1–2 Identifies one or more relevant Acts with limited explanation.
3–4 Explains the purpose of at least two Acts and provides simple examples of their influence on business decisions.
5–6 Explains how all three Acts influence management decisions using appropriate agricultural examples.
7–8 Evaluates how the Acts work together to support environmentally, socially and economically sustainable agricultural production, using detailed examples and clear links to business decision-making.
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