Question Time

Sheep and Goat Electronic Identification

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:24): I seek leave to make a brief explanation prior to addressing a question to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development regarding sheep and goat electronic identification.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: Well, I wouldn't have to if she would do her job.

The PRESIDENT: Order!

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The government benches, contain your excitement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: In early June, the minister revealed a funding package for the government's mandatory rollout of electronic identification, which included the promise of electronic identification tags for producers at less than a dollar. Several questions had been previously asked in this chamber by honourable members as to why details hadn't been released. Finally, two weeks ago, the minister released guidelines about how these producers who tagged their 2023 drop lambs with tags costing approximately $1.90 per tag could claim a 50 per cent rebate on approved NLIS EID devices. My questions to the minister are:

1. Why did it take four months for the minister to release simple guidelines for a rebate scheme?

2. Why hasn't the minister released further details and guidelines about the 2024-25 EID device discounts and essential infrastructure assistance?

3. When is the minister going to release further details and guidelines about the 2024-25 EID device discounts and essential infrastructure assistance?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:26): I thank the honourable member for her question. The answer to the first question is in regard to: this is not simply guidelines, this is also about how the producers can actually claim the rebate, and so those processes needed to be in place prior to making that announcement. The answer to the second question in regard to further details: that's being worked through by both the department and the industry advisory committee and those details will be released as soon as they are available.