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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-05-03 Daily Xml
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CITRUS INDUSTRY

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (15:08): My questions are directed to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries. Given that the citrus industry working group is expected to hand down its report in the near future:

1. Has the minister formulated a time line for the release of the report and its recommendations?

2. What process does she foresee putting in place to execute the recommendations made by the working group?

3. Does the minister envisage the likely repeal of the Citrus Industry Act 2005?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the Status of Women) (15:09): I thank the honourable member for his important question. Indeed, the activities that I undertook in setting up a working party—and the minister before me, a review—were taken in recognition of the need for one very strong, united organisation to lead South Australia's citrus industry into the future. Our citrus industry is very important to us. There has been a high degree of disquiet within the citrus industry, which has been potentially quite damaging, and so a series of actions was taken.

I considered the report of the South Australian citrus industry review that was conducted by Mr Alan Moss, a retired judge, and its recommendations. That review was established by the Hon. Michael O'Brien, former agricultural minister. I subsequently established a citrus industry transition working party to work with the citrus industry to move towards one new, improved cohesive structure.

The role of the working party is to build a new citrus industry representative group with a broad base and a united structure to develop better relationships with industry stakeholders, including Citrus Australia (the national peak body), and I have given that working party six months to complete their work. I appointed Neil Andrew, the former member for Wakefield, as chair of the working party.

Mr Andrew is a very well known and respected member of the community, especially in the Riverland. He has been reporting progress to me. That work has been completed, a report has been provided to me, and I am currently considering that report. A number of other people were part of the working party: Richie Roberts from Costa Exchange; Ms Betty Lloyd, who is a grower; Jeff Knispel of Nippy's Fruit Juices; Ms Cathy Lowe from Amaroo Orchards; Peter Hill, who is grower; and Judith Damiani, CEO of Citrus Australia.

You can see there was a broad cross-section of key industry leaders, if you like, as part of that working party. As I said, I recently received that report and am considering those recommendations. I will be making an announcement in the very near future. As my considerations are not yet complete, I think that is the level of detail that I am prepared to put on the record at this point in time. As I said, an announcement will be made very shortly.

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