Outline two challenges to rural Australia,

Question 1

Resource Degradation

Answer 1

1. Australia faces resource degradation, in the form of soil degradation, impacting its environment and agriculture.
2. Agriculture occupies 55% of Australia’s land, 87% dedicated to livestock grazing, causing overgrazing in arid and semi-arid regions, leading to desertification and severe soil erosion.
3. Extensive land clearing has triggered dryland salinity issues, affecting over one million hectares of farmland in Western Australia (WA).
4. Dryland salinity results in crop and biodiversity loss, endangering 850 endemic species as of 2018.
5. The consequences of resource degradation include farmer income losses, government expenses, and damage to infrastructure.

Question 2

Population Loss:

Answer 2

• Population loss in remote is driven by globalisation, post-war industrialization, economic growth, and rural-urban migration.
• Factors contributing include young people moving to cities for education and employment.
• loss of jobs due to global competition in agriculture
• increased mechanisation in farming, and the appeal of larger regional centres offering services and commerce.