Tree Breeding Australia

The Hon. M. EL DANNAWI (14:38): My question is to the Minister for Forest Industries. Will the minister update the council about the recent funding boost to Tree Breeding Australia?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:38): I thank the honourable member for her question. As members would be aware, the state government is committed to seeing the forest industry in South Australia continue to grow, and that's why we took to the last election a suite of forestry election commitments worth close to $20 million. This is in stark contrast to those members opposite who announced no election policies for the forest industry, nor did they offer any vision to grow the industry further.

According to the South Australian Forest Products Association, the forest industry in South Australia employs, both directly and indirectly, approximately 18,000 South Australians and contributes $3 billion to the South Australian economy each year. That's why I am delighted to inform the council that I had the opportunity to announce last week that the state government is contributing $450,000 to Tree Breeding Australia to support the construction of a new research facility in Mount Gambier.

Tree Breeding Australia is already the home of the National Arboretum and gene banks for radiata pine and Tasmanian blue gum, and this investment will further embed Mount Gambier as a centre for forestry genetics research in Australia. The funding is being matched dollar for dollar by Tree Breeding Australia, with the new cost for the new research facility sitting at a little under $1 million.

I was joined at the announcement by a wide range of key stakeholders from the forest industry and others, including Dr Tony McRae, General Manager of Tree Breeding Australia; board members of Tree Breeding Australia; hardworking local MP Troy Bell; CEO of the South Australia Forest Products Association, Mr Nathan Paine; Ms Charlene Riley, Corporate Affairs Manager at OneFortyOne Green Triangle; and many staff from Tree Breeding Australia.

Research is a key component of the forest industry, and continued improvement in research capability is critical. As in all other industries, climate change will continue to present challenges that need solutions. It is hoped that the work done here will deliver genetically derived improvements for the forest industry through development and propagation of new varieties that are higher yielding and more resistant to disease and insects than previous generations of trees.

This announcement will result in a facility built on the Kilsby Road site designed for pollen processing, seed handling, processing wood core samples, DNA extraction and storage, as well as soil and water quality testing. In addition, it will house IT systems supporting national and international tree improvement and research databases.

I have no doubt that this new facility will provide scientists with better access to infield genetic resources for a wide range of research projects, along with education and training. The research facility will value-add to the work that will soon be undertaken at the Forestry Centre of Excellence. The research undertaken by Tree Breeding Australia will lead to better outcomes and continued improvements in our forest industries, which will result in further growth and expansion of this important industry. Work on the site will begin shortly and is expected to be completed and operational by the middle of next year.