WHEAT MARKETING (EXPIRY) AMENDMENT BILL

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 2 May 2013.)

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (16:41): I rise on behalf of the opposition to make some brief comments about the Wheat Marketing (Expiry) Amendment Bill and indicate that the opposition will be supporting this bill. The bill will repeal the Wheat Marketing Act 1991. As members would be aware, we now have in place Primary Industry Funding (PIF) schemes and the idea of repealing the Wheat Marketing Act is to line up with the coming into operation of the Primary Industry Funding schemes.

The Liberal Party has spoken to industry. As members would know, I have been the shadow minister for agriculture for about 100 days, Mr Steven Marshall having been a very good new Leader of the Opposition for a bit over 100 days now. I was appointed shadow primary industries minister after that change of leadership and one of the very first groups I met with was the South Australian Grain Industry Trust. They were concerned that the minister would be making some changes and were not quite sure what changes they would be.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: They were concerned, shall I say. It was a good opportunity to catch up and talk to some people whom I have known for many years. I have consulted with them and with former member for Light and former minister Malcolm Buckby, who is the executive officer of the South Australian Grain Industry Trust (SAGIT). I have spoken to Malcolm and the South Australian Grain Industry Trust is happy with what this bill will do.

As members would know, the new Primary Industry Funding Scheme currently provides a mechanism for collection of voluntary contributions of industries, and grain is one of those industries. In fact, the grain industry stakeholders have agreed to the collection of contributions moving from the Wheat Marketing Act to the PIF scheme. In other words, there are arrangements already in place to allow for the collection of voluntary contributions for grain research and development.

The minister, I think on 2 May, made a comment in this chamber in relation to that and said, very clearly, that it was in order to avoid any interruption in the collection of contributions to the fund that the government intended 'to repeal the Wheat Marketing Act on the same day as the PIF act grain research scheme commences'. I raise the comment by the honourable member in the hope that the government will honour its commitment and repeal the Wheat Marketing Act to avoid interruption in the collection of contributions.

It was timely today that I received a press release and I thought I would read it into the record. It is from Grain Producers SA (GPSA) which is the body that is funded through the PIF scheme, and they have agreed to collect money on behalf of SAGIT. The press release from GPSA reads:

SAGIT trustee appointed

South Australian Grain Industry Trust (SAGIT) chairman Jim Heaslip, warmly welcomes the appointment of David Shannon as a new trustee to the SAGIT Trust.

Mr Shannon is a sheep and grain farmer at Kapunda in South Australia and Marrawah in Tasmania with extensive experience in the agricultural industry. He has a long history of industry representation including, Southern Regional Panel Chairman of the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) for nine years and Southern Panel Member for an additional 10 years.

'David has contributed significantly to grains research and development over many years and we welcome his experience and knowledge to the SAGIT Trust,' said Mr Heaslip.

Chairman of Grain Producers SA Ltd (GPSA), Garry Hansen, commented 'We are fortunate to have such committed and progressive grain farmers in South Australia that are prepared to foster research and development in the grains industry.'

Mr Shannon joins the other trustees of SAGIT, Jim Heaslip (chairman), Michael Treloar and Linda Eldredge.

Mr Shannon was selected following a public advertisement placed in the Stock Journal in March this year. A selection panel comprising members of SAGIT and GPSA interviewed some exceptional candidates for the position.

As part of the modernization of SAGIT the selection committee recognized the particular skill set of Tanja Morgan and have appointed her to the Trust as a Specialist Advisor. Ms Morgan is currently a member of the SAGIT Project Management Committee.

The Grains Trust is currently funding about $1,400,000 worth of research in SA per year, conducted locally in SA on SA grains issues.

Since its inception SAGIT has invested more than $17,000,000 in research on behalf of SA farmers. This is augmented further by leveraging funds from GRDC, Australian Research Council, governments and private sources, which effectively more than doubles the SAGIT investment.

I have read that into the record just to demonstrate how closely now under the new model Grain Producers SA and the Grains Industry Trust are working together where both the Chairman of SAGIT has welcomed this appointment but also Mr Hansen from Grain Producers SA has welcomed the appointment. I think it indicates how the grain industry is moving forward and they will be very supportive of the repeal of this act. With those few words, I commend the bill to the parliament.

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) (16:47): I thank the opposition for their support for this fairly straightforward—well, it is actually not straightforward as it is quite convoluted. It is a simple administrative response to an act that has now become redundant and shifting the ability to provide industry fees to another mechanism through a PIF fund. It is supported pretty well unanimously. As soon as you say 'unanimously' someone will put their head up. It has been supported almost unanimously by the industry and, as I said, it is a fairly straightforward administrative matter.

Bill read a second time.

Committee Stage

Bill taken through committee without amendment.

Third Reading

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) (16:48): I move:

That this bill be read a third time.

Bill read a third time and passed.

At 16:50 the council adjourned until Wednesday 15 May 2013 at 10:00.