OLIVE INDUSTRY

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (14:56): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries a question about olives.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: South Australia has a strong olive industry and produces high-quality extra-virgin oil. Since 2009, the government has assisted the olive industry to collect a contribution from olive growers through the Primary Industry Funding Schemes Act 1998. My question is: can the minister advise the chamber of a change affecting olive growers?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:57): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. As a devotee of good food myself, I know good olive oil is often a foundation to great meals. South Australia has a long history of growing olives, going right back to the early years of settlement. The olive industry currently consists of several hundred dedicated olive growers, from those with just a few trees growing olives for their own use right up to quite large growers with thousands of trees supplying export markets.

South Australia produces extra-virgin olive oil, the highest grade of oil from the first pressing of fruit. It is highly valued and used in a wide range of culinary dishes from salads to gourmet foods right throughout cooking in a wide range of different styles. In 2009 the South Australian government responded to a request from the olive industry to establish a voluntary contribution under the Primary Industry Funding Schemes (Olive Industry Fund) Regulations 2009 (the Olive Industry Fund), which is administered by me as Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries. This fund was established to provide a mechanism for the olive industry to promote itself, undertake research and other development including market development, and to participate in national forums of benefit to the industry.

The commonwealth, under the Primary Industries and Energy Research and Development Act 1989 (the PIERD Act), may collect levies nationally for primary industries research and development and related purposes. The national olive industry has elected to establish a PIERD Act levy scheme, and that commenced on 1 May this year, which was yesterday.

A local olive industry organisation, Olives South Australia, has advised me that the South Australian olive growers supported the national scheme on the basis that it would replace the state schemes, so to ensure that South Australian olive growers are not obliged to contribute to both schemes, from today, the contribution rate to the South Australian olive fund (under the Olive Fund Regulations) will be set at zero.

While no further contribution is required to this fund, the regulations remain in place to enable the fund provisions in the regulations to operate. Many of the contributions paid in 2013 can still be claimed back by contributors if they so desire. My agency has arranged to contact olive processors to advise them of the changed South Australian regulations.

I am advised that the commonwealth scheme and the inception of the national olive levy will allow olive industry research and development priorities to be determined and funded nationally. I congratulate the olive industry on its new national arrangement and look forward to seeing the results of this more collaborative and cohesive approach.