❓ A parliamentary question challenges the WA government's allocation of $220 million to expand the Ord River irrigation area, questioning whether this investment offers greater benefit than addressing environmental issues affecting established farmland in the south-west. The response acknowledges the lack of comparative studies but affirms commitment to both northern development and southern farming viability.
AnsweredQoN 495Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
ORD RIVER IRRIGATION AREA — FUNDING
According to government media statements, $220 million is to be spent over the next four years to expand the Ord River irrigation area from 14 000 to 28 000 hectares. (1) Is the minister aware of the “State of the Environment Report: Western Australia 2007”, which presents data showing that well over a million hectares of established south west farmland is seriously affected by salinity, acidification and soil erosion? (2) What studies done by the government demonstrate that spending $220 million on a small increase in irrigated farmland in the Ord will be of far greater benefit to Western Australia than spending the same amount on addressing the serious problems affecting a greater area of established farmland in the south west? (3) If any studies have been done, will the minister please table them? (4) If no studies have been done, how can the Western Australian public be assured that large sums of taxpayers’ money will not be spent on a push for northern development at the cost of a continuing rapid decline in farming viability in the south west of Western Australia? Hon DONNA FARAGHER
According to government media statements, $220 million is to be spent over the next four years to expand the Ord River irrigation area from 14 000 to 28 000 hectares. (1) Is the minister aware of the “State of the Environment Report: Western Australia 2007”, which presents data showing that well over a million hectares of established south west farmland is seriously affected by salinity, acidification and soil erosion? (2) What studies done by the government demonstrate that spending $220 million on a small increase in irrigated farmland in the Ord will be of far greater benefit to Western Australia than spending the same amount on addressing the serious problems affecting a greater area of established farmland in the south west? (3) If any studies have been done, will the minister please table them? (4) If no studies have been done, how can the Western Australian public be assured that large sums of taxpayers’ money will not be spent on a push for northern development at the cost of a continuing rapid decline in farming viability in the south west of Western Australia? Hon DONNA FARAGHER
AnswerView source ↗
On behalf of the Minister for Child Protection, I provide the following response — (1) Yes. (2) None. The government is committed to funding the development of new agricultural farming areas such as the Ord as well as sustainable farming management systems in the south west. (3) Not applicable. (4) This government is committing funds for infrastructure to develop the north in the same way that previous governments committed funding to infrastructure to develop the south west of Western Australia. The government will continue also to fund programs aimed at improving farming viability and environmental health in the south west of WA.
(1) Is the minister aware of the “State of the Environment Report: Western Australia 2007”, which presents data showing that well over a million hectares of established south west farmland is seriously affected by salinity, acidification and soil erosion? (2) What studies done by the government demonstrate that spending $220 million on a small increase in irrigated farmland in the Ord will be of far greater benefit to Western Australia than spending the same amount on addressing the serious problems affecting a greater area of established farmland in the south west? (3) If any studies have been done, will the minister please table them? (4) If no studies have been done, how can the Western Australian public be assured that large sums of taxpayers’ money will not be spent on a push for northern development at the cost of a continuing rapid decline in farming viability in the south west of Western Australia? Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: On behalf of the Minister for Child Protection, I provide the following response — (1) Yes. (2) None. The government is committed to funding the development of new agricultural farming areas such as the Ord as well as sustainable farming management systems in the south west. (3) Not applicable. (4) This government is committing funds for infrastructure to develop the north in the same way that previous governments committed funding to infrastructure to develop the south west of Western Australia. The government will continue also to fund programs aimed at improving farming viability and environmental health in the south west of WA.
(2) What studies done by the government demonstrate that spending $220 million on a small increase in irrigated farmland in the Ord will be of far greater benefit to Western Australia than spending the same amount on addressing the serious problems affecting a greater area of established farmland in the south west? (3) If any studies have been done, will the minister please table them? (4) If no studies have been done, how can the Western Australian public be assured that large sums of taxpayers’ money will not be spent on a push for northern development at the cost of a continuing rapid decline in farming viability in the south west of Western Australia? Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: On behalf of the Minister for Child Protection, I provide the following response — (1) Yes. (2) None. The government is committed to funding the development of new agricultural farming areas such as the Ord as well as sustainable farming management systems in the south west. (3) Not applicable. (4) This government is committing funds for infrastructure to develop the north in the same way that previous governments committed funding to infrastructure to develop the south west of Western Australia. The government will continue also to fund programs aimed at improving farming viability and environmental health in the south west of WA.
(3) If any studies have been done, will the minister please table them? (4) If no studies have been done, how can the Western Australian public be assured that large sums of taxpayers’ money will not be spent on a push for northern development at the cost of a continuing rapid decline in farming viability in the south west of Western Australia? Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: On behalf of the Minister for Child Protection, I provide the following response — (1) Yes. (2) None. The government is committed to funding the development of new agricultural farming areas such as the Ord as well as sustainable farming management systems in the south west. (3) Not applicable. (4) This government is committing funds for infrastructure to develop the north in the same way that previous governments committed funding to infrastructure to develop the south west of Western Australia. The government will continue also to fund programs aimed at improving farming viability and environmental health in the south west of WA.
(4) If no studies have been done, how can the Western Australian public be assured that large sums of taxpayers’ money will not be spent on a push for northern development at the cost of a continuing rapid decline in farming viability in the south west of Western Australia? Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: On behalf of the Minister for Child Protection, I provide the following response — (1) Yes. (2) None. The government is committed to funding the development of new agricultural farming areas such as the Ord as well as sustainable farming management systems in the south west. (3) Not applicable. (4) This government is committing funds for infrastructure to develop the north in the same way that previous governments committed funding to infrastructure to develop the south west of Western Australia. The government will continue also to fund programs aimed at improving farming viability and environmental health in the south west of WA.
Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: On behalf of the Minister for Child Protection, I provide the following response — (1) Yes. (2) None. The government is committed to funding the development of new agricultural farming areas such as the Ord as well as sustainable farming management systems in the south west. (3) Not applicable. (4) This government is committing funds for infrastructure to develop the north in the same way that previous governments committed funding to infrastructure to develop the south west of Western Australia. The government will continue also to fund programs aimed at improving farming viability and environmental health in the south west of WA.
On behalf of the Minister for Child Protection, I provide the following response — (1) Yes. (2) None. The government is committed to funding the development of new agricultural farming areas such as the Ord as well as sustainable farming management systems in the south west. (3) Not applicable. (4) This government is committing funds for infrastructure to develop the north in the same way that previous governments committed funding to infrastructure to develop the south west of Western Australia. The government will continue also to fund programs aimed at improving farming viability and environmental health in the south west of WA.
(1) Yes. (2) None. The government is committed to funding the development of new agricultural farming areas such as the Ord as well as sustainable farming management systems in the south west. (3) Not applicable. (4) This government is committing funds for infrastructure to develop the north in the same way that previous governments committed funding to infrastructure to develop the south west of Western Australia. The government will continue also to fund programs aimed at improving farming viability and environmental health in the south west of WA.
(2) None. The government is committed to funding the development of new agricultural farming areas such as the Ord as well as sustainable farming management systems in the south west. (3) Not applicable. (4) This government is committing funds for infrastructure to develop the north in the same way that previous governments committed funding to infrastructure to develop the south west of Western Australia. The government will continue also to fund programs aimed at improving farming viability and environmental health in the south west of WA.
(3) Not applicable. (4) This government is committing funds for infrastructure to develop the north in the same way that previous governments committed funding to infrastructure to develop the south west of Western Australia. The government will continue also to fund programs aimed at improving farming viability and environmental health in the south west of WA.
(4) This government is committing funds for infrastructure to develop the north in the same way that previous governments committed funding to infrastructure to develop the south west of Western Australia. The government will continue also to fund programs aimed at improving farming viability and environmental health in the south west of WA.
(1) Is the minister aware of the “State of the Environment Report: Western Australia 2007”, which presents data showing that well over a million hectares of established south west farmland is seriously affected by salinity, acidification and soil erosion? (2) What studies done by the government demonstrate that spending $220 million on a small increase in irrigated farmland in the Ord will be of far greater benefit to Western Australia than spending the same amount on addressing the serious problems affecting a greater area of established farmland in the south west? (3) If any studies have been done, will the minister please table them? (4) If no studies have been done, how can the Western Australian public be assured that large sums of taxpayers’ money will not be spent on a push for northern development at the cost of a continuing rapid decline in farming viability in the south west of Western Australia? Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: On behalf of the Minister for Child Protection, I provide the following response — (1) Yes. (2) None. The government is committed to funding the development of new agricultural farming areas such as the Ord as well as sustainable farming management systems in the south west. (3) Not applicable. (4) This government is committing funds for infrastructure to develop the north in the same way that previous governments committed funding to infrastructure to develop the south west of Western Australia. The government will continue also to fund programs aimed at improving farming viability and environmental health in the south west of WA.
(2) What studies done by the government demonstrate that spending $220 million on a small increase in irrigated farmland in the Ord will be of far greater benefit to Western Australia than spending the same amount on addressing the serious problems affecting a greater area of established farmland in the south west? (3) If any studies have been done, will the minister please table them? (4) If no studies have been done, how can the Western Australian public be assured that large sums of taxpayers’ money will not be spent on a push for northern development at the cost of a continuing rapid decline in farming viability in the south west of Western Australia? Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: On behalf of the Minister for Child Protection, I provide the following response — (1) Yes. (2) None. The government is committed to funding the development of new agricultural farming areas such as the Ord as well as sustainable farming management systems in the south west. (3) Not applicable. (4) This government is committing funds for infrastructure to develop the north in the same way that previous governments committed funding to infrastructure to develop the south west of Western Australia. The government will continue also to fund programs aimed at improving farming viability and environmental health in the south west of WA.
(3) If any studies have been done, will the minister please table them? (4) If no studies have been done, how can the Western Australian public be assured that large sums of taxpayers’ money will not be spent on a push for northern development at the cost of a continuing rapid decline in farming viability in the south west of Western Australia? Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: On behalf of the Minister for Child Protection, I provide the following response — (1) Yes. (2) None. The government is committed to funding the development of new agricultural farming areas such as the Ord as well as sustainable farming management systems in the south west. (3) Not applicable. (4) This government is committing funds for infrastructure to develop the north in the same way that previous governments committed funding to infrastructure to develop the south west of Western Australia. The government will continue also to fund programs aimed at improving farming viability and environmental health in the south west of WA.
(4) If no studies have been done, how can the Western Australian public be assured that large sums of taxpayers’ money will not be spent on a push for northern development at the cost of a continuing rapid decline in farming viability in the south west of Western Australia? Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: On behalf of the Minister for Child Protection, I provide the following response — (1) Yes. (2) None. The government is committed to funding the development of new agricultural farming areas such as the Ord as well as sustainable farming management systems in the south west. (3) Not applicable. (4) This government is committing funds for infrastructure to develop the north in the same way that previous governments committed funding to infrastructure to develop the south west of Western Australia. The government will continue also to fund programs aimed at improving farming viability and environmental health in the south west of WA.
Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: On behalf of the Minister for Child Protection, I provide the following response — (1) Yes. (2) None. The government is committed to funding the development of new agricultural farming areas such as the Ord as well as sustainable farming management systems in the south west. (3) Not applicable. (4) This government is committing funds for infrastructure to develop the north in the same way that previous governments committed funding to infrastructure to develop the south west of Western Australia. The government will continue also to fund programs aimed at improving farming viability and environmental health in the south west of WA.
On behalf of the Minister for Child Protection, I provide the following response — (1) Yes. (2) None. The government is committed to funding the development of new agricultural farming areas such as the Ord as well as sustainable farming management systems in the south west. (3) Not applicable. (4) This government is committing funds for infrastructure to develop the north in the same way that previous governments committed funding to infrastructure to develop the south west of Western Australia. The government will continue also to fund programs aimed at improving farming viability and environmental health in the south west of WA.
(1) Yes. (2) None. The government is committed to funding the development of new agricultural farming areas such as the Ord as well as sustainable farming management systems in the south west. (3) Not applicable. (4) This government is committing funds for infrastructure to develop the north in the same way that previous governments committed funding to infrastructure to develop the south west of Western Australia. The government will continue also to fund programs aimed at improving farming viability and environmental health in the south west of WA.
(2) None. The government is committed to funding the development of new agricultural farming areas such as the Ord as well as sustainable farming management systems in the south west. (3) Not applicable. (4) This government is committing funds for infrastructure to develop the north in the same way that previous governments committed funding to infrastructure to develop the south west of Western Australia. The government will continue also to fund programs aimed at improving farming viability and environmental health in the south west of WA.
(3) Not applicable. (4) This government is committing funds for infrastructure to develop the north in the same way that previous governments committed funding to infrastructure to develop the south west of Western Australia. The government will continue also to fund programs aimed at improving farming viability and environmental health in the south west of WA.
(4) This government is committing funds for infrastructure to develop the north in the same way that previous governments committed funding to infrastructure to develop the south west of Western Australia. The government will continue also to fund programs aimed at improving farming viability and environmental health in the south west of WA.
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