Kangaroo Island Timber

Mr BELL (Mount Gambier) (15:15): My question again is to the minister for forestry. Is the minister aware of any alternate proposals that have been put to either himself or his department around the potential conversion of unused timber into chip which could then form the fuel of a biomass plant for Kangaroo Island supplying electricity to residents and industry in Kangaroo Island?

The Hon. D.K.B. BASHAM (Finniss—Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development) (15:16): I thank the member for Mount Gambier for his question. Yes, we are aware of some other particular options, including that KIPT themselves were awarded a grant to progress down this path. My understanding is that it was $5 million paid by the federal government. My understanding is that their intention is to repay the $2½ million that I believe they have already received, as they are no longer progressing with that as a project that they wish to proceed with.