❓ Mr. Folkard asks how the McGowan government's $7 million investment in a marine finfish nursery in Geraldton supports WA's aquaculture industry. The Minister responds by highlighting job creation, economic benefits, and redundancy in the juvenile fish supply chain.
AnsweredQoN 398Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MARINE FINFISH NURSERY, GERALDTON —AQUACULTURE
398. Mr M.J. FOLKARD to the Minister for Fisheries:
I refer to the responsible financial management of the
McGowan Labor government that has meant more money for projects that create
jobs and diversify our economy. Can the minister outline to the house how the
McGowan Labor government's $7 million commitment to a state-of-the-art
marine finfish nursery in Geraldton supports the growth of WA's
aquaculture industry?
398. Mr M.J. FOLKARD to the Minister for Fisheries:
I refer to the responsible financial management of the
McGowan Labor government that has meant more money for projects that create
jobs and diversify our economy. Can the minister outline to the house how the
McGowan Labor government's $7 million commitment to a state-of-the-art
marine finfish nursery in Geraldton supports the growth of WA's
aquaculture industry?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question, and given the question
we have just had from the member for Moore, I think he will be interested in
the answer to this—a very good job-creating project funded by the
McGowan government, especially in the regions. Because of the very good
financial management that this government has exhibited in the two years it has
been in office, it is able to fund projects as announced in the budget. The one
the member for Burns Beach has asked about is a $7 million commitment that we
have made for a state-of-the-art marine finfish nursery in Geraldton. Members
will be aware that we have previously announced the midwest aquaculture zone,
located in the Abrolhos Islands. Not only have we established that zone, but we
have also attracted a major company, Huon Aquaculture, to set up business
there. That will be a huge economic boost to the midwest region. We will have
Huon there. We will have Indian Ocean Fresh, which is a great Western Australian
company, all pursuing yellowtail kingfish as a major new aquaculture venture in
Western Australia.
We are funding a finfish nursery in Geraldton, located at the
Batavia Coast Maritime Institute. That nursery will provide the juvenile fish
for Huon. Currently, the only facility capable of supplying juvenile fish is
located in Fremantle. Obviously, it makes more sense for those juvenile fish to
be available in Geraldton. But it also means that there are now two facilities
in Western Australia that can supply the juveniles, so if there is an issue
with one of them at any one time, there is some redundancy in the supply chain.
We made a $7 million commitment in the budget for that nursery in Geraldton, a huge
boost to the economy in the midwest. I was up there on 17 April and met with
the Mid West Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This project was very well
received. They think it is a great boost for the region. I also met with the
City of Geraldton. They are very enthusiastic about this investment.
I am pleased to say, member for Moore, that even the member
for Geraldton last night in this place described this as ''a really
positive move'' and ''a good potential job creator''. I want
to thank the member for Geraldton for the support that he has given for this
project. I would just say to the member for Moore that he should listen to
people in his electorate. They can see the benefits of the policies that we
have to boost jobs in the midwest. People in his electorate have an opportunity
to participate in this as well. Huon is a major employer in Tasmania. It has
ambitions to make its operations in the Abrolhos as big as its operations in
Tasmania.
I thank the member for the question. We are getting on,
creating new jobs in regional Western Australia.
we have just had from the member for Moore, I think he will be interested in
the answer to this—a very good job-creating project funded by the
McGowan government, especially in the regions. Because of the very good
financial management that this government has exhibited in the two years it has
been in office, it is able to fund projects as announced in the budget. The one
the member for Burns Beach has asked about is a $7 million commitment that we
have made for a state-of-the-art marine finfish nursery in Geraldton. Members
will be aware that we have previously announced the midwest aquaculture zone,
located in the Abrolhos Islands. Not only have we established that zone, but we
have also attracted a major company, Huon Aquaculture, to set up business
there. That will be a huge economic boost to the midwest region. We will have
Huon there. We will have Indian Ocean Fresh, which is a great Western Australian
company, all pursuing yellowtail kingfish as a major new aquaculture venture in
Western Australia.
We are funding a finfish nursery in Geraldton, located at the
Batavia Coast Maritime Institute. That nursery will provide the juvenile fish
for Huon. Currently, the only facility capable of supplying juvenile fish is
located in Fremantle. Obviously, it makes more sense for those juvenile fish to
be available in Geraldton. But it also means that there are now two facilities
in Western Australia that can supply the juveniles, so if there is an issue
with one of them at any one time, there is some redundancy in the supply chain.
We made a $7 million commitment in the budget for that nursery in Geraldton, a huge
boost to the economy in the midwest. I was up there on 17 April and met with
the Mid West Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This project was very well
received. They think it is a great boost for the region. I also met with the
City of Geraldton. They are very enthusiastic about this investment.
I am pleased to say, member for Moore, that even the member
for Geraldton last night in this place described this as ''a really
positive move'' and ''a good potential job creator''. I want
to thank the member for Geraldton for the support that he has given for this
project. I would just say to the member for Moore that he should listen to
people in his electorate. They can see the benefits of the policies that we
have to boost jobs in the midwest. People in his electorate have an opportunity
to participate in this as well. Huon is a major employer in Tasmania. It has
ambitions to make its operations in the Abrolhos as big as its operations in
Tasmania.
I thank the member for the question. We are getting on,
creating new jobs in regional Western Australia.
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