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dlatimer
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# Posted: 21 Dec 2008 12:54
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTIONS - Senate Hansard - 26 November 2008
Senator PAYNE (New South Wales) (4:04 PM) —I move:
That the Senate—
(a)
notes and agrees with the comments of the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Mr Burke) when he called for all governments to refocus on agricultural research and development so as to boost agricultural productivity;
(b)
condemns:
(i) the New South Wales Labor Government for eroding agricultural research and development institutions like Hurlstone Agricultural High School and the Glen Innes Research and Advisory Station, and
(ii) the Federal Government’s decision to axe funding to various Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation agricultural research institutions, such as JM Rendel Laboratory for livestock research in Rockhampton, Queensland, and the plant research laboratory in Merbein, Victoria; and
(c) calls on the Federal Government to intervene and prevent the destruction of these institutions and to save the future of the Australian agricultural research and development sector.
Question agreed to.
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dlatimer
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# Posted: 21 Dec 2008 12:59
QUESTION TIME 25 November 2008
Senator PAYNE (New South Wales) —Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. I remind the minister that my first question was about refocusing on investment in agricultural research, so the first supplementary question was directly relevant. My second supplementary question—let me not disappoint the minister—is: can the minister advise how Mr Burke’s comments measure up with the New South Wales Labor government’s decision to sell off nearly 90 per cent of Hurlstone» Agricultural High School in Western Sydney and its productive land, and also the world-leading Glen Innes Agricultural Research and Advisory Station? Will the minister make representations to the New South Wales Labor government to prevent these sales from occurring, both in Glen Innes and at «Hurlstone», and «Hurlstone itself becoming unviable and no longer productive?
Senator SHERRY (Tasmania) (Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law) —I do not think it would surprise the questioner, given that this is her third attempt in a very, very wide-ranging question—geographically at least, and on a range of issues—that, in order to provide her with a fully informed answer, I will take it on notice.
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dlatimer
Member Info |
# Posted: 21 Dec 2008 13:02
QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE: ADDITIONAL ANSWERS - Agriculture
4th December 2008
Senator SHERRY (Tasmania) (Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law) (3:03 PM) —I wish to provide answers to the questions I took on notice, in my capacity as Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, during question time on 25 November from Senator Payne. The answers are very detailed and lengthy and I seek leave to incorporate them in Hansard.
Leave granted.
The answers read as follows—
Answers to questions taken on notice during question time on 25 November 2008 from Senator Payne to the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Sherry
answers to (1) and (2)
(3) ‘… can the minister advise how Mr Burke’s comments measure up with the New South Wales Labor government’s decision to sell off nearly 90 per cent of Hurlstone» Agricultural High School in Western Sydney and its productive land, and also the world-leading Glen Innes Agricultural Research and Advisory Station? Will the minister make representations to the New South Wales Labor government to prevent these sales from occurring, both in Glen Innes and at «Hurlstone», and «Hurlstone itself becoming unviable and no longer productive?’
The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry recognises the importance of a continued rural research and development effort. Keeping Australia’s farmers ahead of the rest of the world is a key priority for the Australian Government especially in the face of increasing international concerns about food security.
Research into soil carbon is a priority of the Australian Government and research projects on improving Australia’s soils will be the first tranche of projects under the $46.2m allocated for research under Australia ‘s Farming Future. The government will also be prioritising research into reducing greenhouse pollution and adapting to climate change. The government will work together with industry and local community on these issues.
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