Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics

In reply to the Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (23 June 2016).

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy): The Minister for Agriculture Food and Fisheries has received this advice:

It was never the intention of the State Government to fund the Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics indefinitely and plenty of warning was given that this would cease. We will continue to work with them to find new commercial partners and focus on marketable research.

Since 2002, The Centre has received tens of millions of dollars from universities across Australia, industry, the Australian Research Council and more than $22 million from the State Government. In recent years, almost all of the original partners have stopped funding the Centre. South Australia should not be expected to be the only state to provide ongoing funds for the national research undertaken at the Centre. If the whole nation is benefitting then the total cost shouldn't be borne by one state.