ILWS PUBLIC DEBATE ON FOOD SECURITY
WEDNESDAY 14 AUGUST 2013, THURGOONA CAMPUS
REPORT ON OUTCOMES AND ACHIEVEMENTS
The aim of the public debate was threefold:
1. Provide a forum to engage communities in the Albury-Wodonga region in thinking about a high
profile issue – food security.
2. Showcase the research on food security being conducted within ILWS, and CSU more broadly.
3. Position ILWS, and CSU, as an intellectual and public leader on food security issues.
To achieve these aims, a panel format was devised consisting of politicians and academics with
panellists asked to address the question: How can we best ensure Australia’s future food security?
The panel for the debate included politicians standing for the election in the Albury-Wodonga
region, including: The Hon. Sussan Ley MP, Federal Member for Farrer, Mr Gavin Hickey (Country
Labor Party candidate for Farrer), Ms Jenny O’Connar (The Australian Greens candidate for Indi) and
Ms Cathy McGowan (an independent candidate for Indi). Three CSU academics were also part of
panel addressing the question from different perspectives: Professor Deirdre Lemerle (production
perspective), Associate Professor Susan McAlpin (health perspective) and Professor Allan Curtis
(environmental/social perspective).
Candidates from a number of minor parties – including the Katter’s Australia Party, Palmer United
Party and Democratic Labor Party – were given 1-2 minutes to introduce themselves and give their
stand on food security, but they did not form part of the panel.
The event was facilitated by Gaye Pattison, ABC Murray Goulburn’s station manager.
The debate had three key outcomes consistent with its stated aims:
Outcome 1
The event contributed to an improved audience understanding of local and
national food security issues.
Based on preliminary results from a post-event survey (N=31), the majority of respondents (80%)
felt that attending the event increased their knowledge of the issues associated with food
security in Australia.
63% of respondents felt that there was an appropriate balance on the panel between
perspectives on food security from CSU academics and the views of political candidates.
Outcome 2
The event was important in publicising the significance of the ILWS, and CSU more
broadly, as an intellectual and public leader on food security issues.
In the lead up to the event there was extensive media interest including: initial mention of the
event on ABC Goulburn Murray July 24, then Prof Max Finlayson was interviewed on the subject
on 2AY News and MMG Rural News, July 31; Prof Deirdre Lemerle (one of the presenters) on
ABC Victorian Country Hour, August 2, ABC Goulburn Murray mornings, August 5 a blog in Open
Forum, August 6; A/Prof Sue McAlpin, another presenter, had a blog in Open Forum, August 3; a
large feature story about the event in the Border Mail, August 3; Prof Kevin Parton had a blog on
the subject in Open Forum, August 6 and was interviewed by ABC Goulburn Murray mornings,
ABC NW NSW, August 7; speaker Prof Allan Curtis was interviewed on ABC Goulburn Murray
mornings, August 6; mention of the debate as part of Science Week in News Week and ABC
Goulburn Murray mornings, August 8; interview with Margrit Beemster, communications
coordinator on ABC Goulburn Murray mornings, August 9; story on the debate in the Border
Mail’s Country Mail section, August 10; Interview with A/Prof Vaughan Higgins on ABC Goulburn
Murray mornings, August 14; interview with Prof Max Finlayson on ABC Goulburn Murray, 14
August.
On the day following the event the Border Mail newspaper had a half page spread on p.7
reporting on the debate.
Outcome 3
The event demonstrated public interest in CSU running events on high profile
political and social issues, such as food security.
Over 125 people attended the debate (not including ILWS staff). This was impressive attendance
on a cold and wet evening.
97% of respondents to the post-event survey indicated a strong interest in attending similar
events in the future.
The ILWS is planning to capitalise on these outcomes in three key ways:
Plan future annual public events/debates which focus on high profile issues relevant to ILWS
strategic research areas.
A food security symposium/conference in 2014 which continues to build the profile of ILWS and
CSU as a research leader in this area.
Establish a food security and sovereignty strategic research area (SRA) in 2014.
Pursue future funding opportunities to enable further research by ILWS members in this field.
A/Prof Vaughan Higgins
Associate Director – Institute for Land, Water and Society