Former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce says "the one thing we can do" to reduce the effects of drought is introduce the Bradfield Scheme, an ambitious plan from the 1930s aimed at diverting floodwaters from the north of the country inland.

Tony Abbott claims some places in Queensland and NSW are experiencing a "once-in-a-quarter-century" or even a "once-in-a-century" drought.

This report explores the relationship between patterns of migration and aderse weather conditions such as drought, citing the recent Australian examples. The major social and economic costs and benefits of migration identified in recent censuses are used to explain the changing patterns of mobility within and between rural and metropolitan areas.

This interim report addresses two parts of the Inquiry's terms of reference. Chapter 2 of the report outlines the scientific evidence available on the likely future climate of Australia's key agricultural production zones. Chapter 3 of the report discusses the adequacy of existing drought assistance and exceptional circumstances programs to cope with long-term climatic changes.

The Australian Government commissioned the Bureau of Meteorology and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) to undertake a climatic assessment of the likely future climate patterns and the current Exceptional Circumstances standard of a one-in-20-to-25-year-event.