Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-02-05 Daily Xml

Contents

CHINA TRADE LINKS

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE (14:53): I have a supplementary further to the minister's answer and given the fact that the Chinese are looking at over $200 million worth of baby formula milk processing opportunities in New Zealand. Has the minister and her department approached the Chinese authorities to see whether a baby milk formula processing plant could be established in South Australia to help dairy farmers?

The PRESIDENT: I am not sure about the link there.

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) (14:53): The honourable member will be pleased to know that during my last visit we promoted a wide range of South Australian primary products, including dairy. We took a presentation with us that outlined the potential for our dairy industry. We did not talk about specific products per se, but we certainly indicated that we had a vast potential in terms of dairy products, beef, wheat and sheep. As I said, we promoted very strongly all of our major primary producers, fisheries and aquaculture. As I said, we put forward a presentation that really did very much show the potential for South Australia. What we were doing was putting out where opportunities were and trying to attract interest. I am returning to China early this year and we will be again picking up on those relationships that we commenced and working to generate as much interest as we possibly can.