Almond Industry

The Hon. S.W. KEY (Ashford) (15:08): My question is directed to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries. Minister, can you update the house on the centre of excellence for the Australian almond industry?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL (Mawson—Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Tourism, Minister for Recreation and Sport, Minister for Racing) (15:08): I thank the member for Ashford for the question. Of course, Australia is the largest exporter of almonds in the world after California. Last year, it was a great pleasure to open the national research centre for the almond industry in Loxton. It is a terrific development and one that we fought hard to get. There was a prospectus out and it was a battle between Victoria and South Australia.

I'm very pleased that South Australia came out in front, and we will continue to work with our colleagues across the state borders, of course, to make sure we take a national approach because there is huge demand for our almonds. In fact, for South Australia, almonds are the largest horticultural crop by export value, with more than $140 million worth of almonds exported from South Australia in 2015.

It was terrific to be up there a few weeks ago and see that, under the SARMS money that we have been putting into the Riverland, people are putting in different varieties of almonds, including more drought-tolerant varieties. Of course, almonds are what the world is looking for. Two new varieties have been developed and released by the Almond Board of Australia. They are self-pollinating, they have higher yields and they are incredibly exciting for the entire almond industry.

I can also report today that a suitable parcel of land in the Riverland has been identified and that work is underway to draw up the necessary contracts and agreements for the sale to proceed in the coming months so that trials can be undertaken. We're looking forward to a new orchard being established, which will include semicommercial scale assessment of new varieties from the Adelaide University's plant breeding program.

I can also report that the state government's financial contribution to the centre, which is $1 million per year for four years, has already leveraged new money for the industry. The federal government's Rural Research and Development for Profit program recently announced it is contributing $10 million in research funding for both almonds and walnuts and, specifically, the importance of pollinating insects to these industries. Of this $10 million, approximately $2.1 million will be provided to the Almond Board to investigate productivity improvements in the almond industry.

Of course, Almondco is a great Riverland success story as well, and it's terrific. Back in 2014, the state government provided $1.9 million in funding to allow them to buy a new pasteurising machine. From that $1.9 million in funding, it has created $120 million of new business in the first two years. It's a tremendous approach. It is worth contrasting: when we go up and do things, there's fantastic returns; when the opposition leader goes up and talks to people up there—he's got the Midas touch—everything he touches turns into a muffler. He was up there during—

Mr van Holst Pellekaan: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: Point of order. The minister will be seated. Member for Stuart.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Debate.

The SPEAKER: I uphold the point of order. Minister.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: It went back 15.2 per cent. It is terrific to see the great work that is happening in the Riverland in the almond industry, one of our really great contributors to our export figures that the Minister for Trade mentioned before and also contributing to that $1.1 billion lift in the value of our food and wine in South Australia. Last year, we took it from $17.1 billion to $18.2 billion.

We're going to continue to work with the agriculture sector to make sure that we are opening up new markets, but we are also helping them increase their productivity and increase the value of their produce so that we can get the best return possible on investment not only from a government point of view but from the private sector's point of view, and most importantly it's about creating new jobs right throughout all of regional South Australia. The food industry is tremendously important, and we are here to back in the industry—agriculture, food, fisheries—and make sure that we are a government that cares for the farmers of South Australia.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Chaffey is warned. The Treasurer is warned for the second and the final time. The member for Adelaide.