❓ Hon. Darren West questions the Minister for Agriculture and Food regarding a new inspection fee for imported seeds, specifically its calculation, projected revenue, and impact on small-volume importers. The Minister's initial response is deemed irrelevant, leading to a Point of Order.
AnsweredQoN 349Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
IMPORTED SEEDS — INSPECTION FEE
349. Hon DARREN WEST to the Minister for Agriculture and
Food:
I refer to the announcement that, as at 1 July, the
Department of Agriculture and Food will impose a charge of $56 per 15 minutes
for the inspection of imported seeds into WA.
(1) How was
the charge rate of $224 an hour calculated?
(2) What is
the projected revenue to the state government from this charge?
(3) Given that
this charge will be paid by home gardeners, schools, community groups and other
small-volume seed importers, does the minister support this excessive fee?
349. Hon DARREN WEST to the Minister for Agriculture and
Food:
I refer to the announcement that, as at 1 July, the
Department of Agriculture and Food will impose a charge of $56 per 15 minutes
for the inspection of imported seeds into WA.
(1) How was
the charge rate of $224 an hour calculated?
(2) What is
the projected revenue to the state government from this charge?
(3) Given that
this charge will be paid by home gardeners, schools, community groups and other
small-volume seed importers, does the minister support this excessive fee?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this
question. The Department of Agriculture and Food has advised that, of the
department's 379 fees and charges, 270 fees were increased. Fourteen
new fees were introduced: 133 fees increased by greater than zero but less than
3.1 per cent, equal to the consumer price index; 56 fees increased by greater
than 3.1 per cent but less than 10 per cent; and, 81 fees increased by greater
than 10 per cent.
Point of Order
Hon SUE ELLERY : That was
not the question that was asked. Perhaps if Hon Darren West can give us the C number
at the top of the question, we can make sure that the minister checks that he
is answering the right question.
The PRESIDENT : I note a
couple of things. It would help if members asking the question provided the C number,
but it would also help if ministers listened carefully to the questions being
asked and found the answer to those questions, not answers to other questions.
If the minister has answered the wrong question, perhaps he can correct that at
the end of question time.
question. The Department of Agriculture and Food has advised that, of the
department's 379 fees and charges, 270 fees were increased. Fourteen
new fees were introduced: 133 fees increased by greater than zero but less than
3.1 per cent, equal to the consumer price index; 56 fees increased by greater
than 3.1 per cent but less than 10 per cent; and, 81 fees increased by greater
than 10 per cent.
Point of Order
Hon SUE ELLERY : That was
not the question that was asked. Perhaps if Hon Darren West can give us the C number
at the top of the question, we can make sure that the minister checks that he
is answering the right question.
The PRESIDENT : I note a
couple of things. It would help if members asking the question provided the C number,
but it would also help if ministers listened carefully to the questions being
asked and found the answer to those questions, not answers to other questions.
If the minister has answered the wrong question, perhaps he can correct that at
the end of question time.
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