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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2024-06-27 Daily Xml
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Agricultural Industry

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:32): I seek leave to make a brief explanation prior to asking a question of the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development regarding agricultural production in South Australia.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: The nation of Denmark, like Australia, is a major exporter of pork and dairy. Denmark has moved ahead with the world's first carbon tax on agriculture, labelled in the form of a levy, with dairy and beef cattle farmers and pig farmers set to be charged 300 Danish krone, equivalent to approximately $A65 per tonne of CO2 equivalent emissions from their livestock in 2030, rising to 750 Danish krone, or approximately $A162 in 2035.

According to one Danish think tank, the average dairy cow produces 5.6 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year. This means a $364 levy per cow per year in 2030 and a staggering $907 levy per cow per year in 2035. Danish farming organisations have heavily criticised the deal, stating it will hinder not only production but any ability for the industry to invest in technology and innovation to improve their practices.

It is crucial to note that the levy will not be used to tackle innovation and technology for the industry but, instead, and I quote from the Danish foreign minister, 'invest billions in the biggest transformation of the Danish landscape'. The minister notes that this equates to funding wetlands and reforestation projects. In light of this news, my inbox and my office have been alarmingly busy of recent days with calls and correspondence from concerned South Australian producers who want—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: This is a serious issue—who want reassurance that they will not be facing another industry levy.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: My question to the minister is: can the minister guarantee the chamber that a Malinauskas Labor government will not impose any state-based carbon tax or levy on livestock here in South Australia?

The Hon. R.B. Martin interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Martin!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:35): We have no policy to introduce such a tax here in South Australia. What we have seen week after week here in this place is those opposite, particularly the Leader of the Opposition in this place, constantly talking about federal matters. The suggestion was perhaps she was auditioning for a role in federal parliament. Now it appears that she is auditioning for a role in the EU parliament. Perhaps she needs to realise that if she wants to be in the EU parliament she should move to Europe. I think the questions that she is asking show that she has run out of ideas for South Australia. She can't talk about South Australian issues. It's got to be about national issues or now even international issues.

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