❓ Question regarding the recent shipment of WA wheat to Saudi Arabia, its background, and benefits to WA. The Minister highlights the shipment's significance, the government's role in facilitating the trade, and its positive impact on the WA grain industry.
AnsweredQoN 670Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WHEAT SHIPMENTS — SAUDI ARABIA
The people of this place will be aware of the importance of agriculture to the people of Western Australia and the importance — Mr T.G. Stephens : Who’s your question to? The SPEAKER : Take a seat. Member for Pilbara, if you want to ask questions in this place, I will give you the opportunity. But I prefer that you do not just scream out during someone else asking a question. I formally call you to order for the first time. Mr M.J. COWPER : For the benefit of the member for Pilbara, my question is to the Minister for Agriculture and Food. Agriculture is a very important part of the Western Australian economy, and people in this place will understand the importance of maintaining and developing trade relationships. Can the minister please update the house on the latest developments on the shipment of wheat to Saudi Arabia, how it came about, and what benefits it will bring back to Western Australia? Mr D.T. REDMAN
The people of this place will be aware of the importance of agriculture to the people of Western Australia and the importance — Mr T.G. Stephens : Who’s your question to? The SPEAKER : Take a seat. Member for Pilbara, if you want to ask questions in this place, I will give you the opportunity. But I prefer that you do not just scream out during someone else asking a question. I formally call you to order for the first time. Mr M.J. COWPER : For the benefit of the member for Pilbara, my question is to the Minister for Agriculture and Food. Agriculture is a very important part of the Western Australian economy, and people in this place will understand the importance of maintaining and developing trade relationships. Can the minister please update the house on the latest developments on the shipment of wheat to Saudi Arabia, how it came about, and what benefits it will bring back to Western Australia? Mr D.T. REDMAN
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Murray–Wellington for the question. It is great to be asked a really important question in this house that relates to the economic development of Western Australia. It is clearly significant to a sector that is going through significant strain with the current dry season. I am very proud to announce that Western Australia recently sent a 55 000 tonne shipment of wheat to Saudi Arabia. The shipment by the CBH Group was the first sale of WA wheat to Saudi Arabia in more than 20 years. I am sure that even the opposition will concede that that is significant for our rural industry and obviously is significant for the grain-growing areas of Western Australia. The $12 million shipment that recently left the Esperance port follows my visit to Saudi Arabia last year in which we had a very strong focus on the fact that the Saudi Arabians are shifting away from their own domestic production of wheat and sourcing it from outside. It had some significant barriers to Western Australia in terms of the grain specification that they were prepared to accept. We were able to host a reciprocal visit of a Saudi delegation to Western Australia. We worked with those delegates and showed them the state’s grain production, research and storage facilities. They were clearly very impressed with that. We also worked with them to give them an understanding that Western Australian wheat can meet the end use requirements for the Saudis. On the back of that, Western Australian farmers are now able to supply wheat to the Saudi market. That 55 000 tonne shipment is certainly a significant milestone for the Western Australian grain industry. It is very much a combined effort of the state government through the Department of Agriculture and Food, the grains industry and the federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. It has taken us right back to the basics. Quite simply, we made sure we understood what the customer wanted and we went about delivering those outcomes. This is on the back of this state government’s focus on improvement and Western Australia leading the country in its grains research development and extension strategy. The government’s $30 million commitment to the development of the Australian export grain innovation centre will also attract national and international investment. The “new genes for new environments” facility at Katanning and Merredin will also utilise new GM technologies. The very progressive decision to grow GM canola in Western Australia has led to the fact that 72 000 hectares of GM canola are growing in the 2010 season. Early anecdotal evidence suggests that that canola is performing very well, even if it is a very tough season. The outcome of this shipment to Saudi Arabia is a win for industry and it certainly shows that the Liberal–National government is committed to fostering these precious trade relationships.
Mr T.G. Stephens : Who’s your question to? The SPEAKER : Take a seat. Member for Pilbara, if you want to ask questions in this place, I will give you the opportunity. But I prefer that you do not just scream out during someone else asking a question. I formally call you to order for the first time. Mr M.J. COWPER : For the benefit of the member for Pilbara, my question is to the Minister for Agriculture and Food. Agriculture is a very important part of the Western Australian economy, and people in this place will understand the importance of maintaining and developing trade relationships. Can the minister please update the house on the latest developments on the shipment of wheat to Saudi Arabia, how it came about, and what benefits it will bring back to Western Australia? Mr D.T. REDMAN replied: I thank the member for Murray–Wellington for the question. It is great to be asked a really important question in this house that relates to the economic development of Western Australia. It is clearly significant to a sector that is going through significant strain with the current dry season. I am very proud to announce that Western Australia recently sent a 55 000 tonne shipment of wheat to Saudi Arabia. The shipment by the CBH Group was the first sale of WA wheat to Saudi Arabia in more than 20 years. I am sure that even the opposition will concede that that is significant for our rural industry and obviously is significant for the grain-growing areas of Western Australia. The $12 million shipment that recently left the Esperance port follows my visit to Saudi Arabia last year in which we had a very strong focus on the fact that the Saudi Arabians are shifting away from their own domestic production of wheat and sourcing it from outside. It had some significant barriers to Western Australia in terms of the grain specification that they were prepared to accept. We were able to host a reciprocal visit of a Saudi delegation to Western Australia. We worked with those delegates and showed them the state’s grain production, research and storage facilities. They were clearly very impressed with that. We also worked with them to give them an understanding that Western Australian wheat can meet the end use requirements for the Saudis. On the back of that, Western Australian farmers are now able to supply wheat to the Saudi market. That 55 000 tonne shipment is certainly a significant milestone for the Western Australian grain industry. It is very much a combined effort of the state government through the Department of Agriculture and Food, the grains industry and the federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. It has taken us right back to the basics. Quite simply, we made sure we understood what the customer wanted and we went about delivering those outcomes. This is on the back of this state government’s focus on improvement and Western Australia leading the country in its grains research development and extension strategy. The government’s $30 million commitment to the development of the Australian export grain innovation centre will also attract national and international investment. The “new genes for new environments” facility at Katanning and Merredin will also utilise new GM technologies. The very progressive decision to grow GM canola in Western Australia has led to the fact that 72 000 hectares of GM canola are growing in the 2010 season. Early anecdotal evidence suggests that that canola is performing very well, even if it is a very tough season. The outcome of this shipment to Saudi Arabia is a win for industry and it certainly shows that the Liberal–National government is committed to fostering these precious trade relationships.
The SPEAKER : Take a seat. Member for Pilbara, if you want to ask questions in this place, I will give you the opportunity. But I prefer that you do not just scream out during someone else asking a question. I formally call you to order for the first time. Mr M.J. COWPER : For the benefit of the member for Pilbara, my question is to the Minister for Agriculture and Food. Agriculture is a very important part of the Western Australian economy, and people in this place will understand the importance of maintaining and developing trade relationships. Can the minister please update the house on the latest developments on the shipment of wheat to Saudi Arabia, how it came about, and what benefits it will bring back to Western Australia? Mr D.T. REDMAN replied: I thank the member for Murray–Wellington for the question. It is great to be asked a really important question in this house that relates to the economic development of Western Australia. It is clearly significant to a sector that is going through significant strain with the current dry season. I am very proud to announce that Western Australia recently sent a 55 000 tonne shipment of wheat to Saudi Arabia. The shipment by the CBH Group was the first sale of WA wheat to Saudi Arabia in more than 20 years. I am sure that even the opposition will concede that that is significant for our rural industry and obviously is significant for the grain-growing areas of Western Australia. The $12 million shipment that recently left the Esperance port follows my visit to Saudi Arabia last year in which we had a very strong focus on the fact that the Saudi Arabians are shifting away from their own domestic production of wheat and sourcing it from outside. It had some significant barriers to Western Australia in terms of the grain specification that they were prepared to accept. We were able to host a reciprocal visit of a Saudi delegation to Western Australia. We worked with those delegates and showed them the state’s grain production, research and storage facilities. They were clearly very impressed with that. We also worked with them to give them an understanding that Western Australian wheat can meet the end use requirements for the Saudis. On the back of that, Western Australian farmers are now able to supply wheat to the Saudi market. That 55 000 tonne shipment is certainly a significant milestone for the Western Australian grain industry. It is very much a combined effort of the state government through the Department of Agriculture and Food, the grains industry and the federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. It has taken us right back to the basics. Quite simply, we made sure we understood what the customer wanted and we went about delivering those outcomes. This is on the back of this state government’s focus on improvement and Western Australia leading the country in its grains research development and extension strategy. The government’s $30 million commitment to the development of the Australian export grain innovation centre will also attract national and international investment. The “new genes for new environments” facility at Katanning and Merredin will also utilise new GM technologies. The very progressive decision to grow GM canola in Western Australia has led to the fact that 72 000 hectares of GM canola are growing in the 2010 season. Early anecdotal evidence suggests that that canola is performing very well, even if it is a very tough season. The outcome of this shipment to Saudi Arabia is a win for industry and it certainly shows that the Liberal–National government is committed to fostering these precious trade relationships.
Mr M.J. COWPER : For the benefit of the member for Pilbara, my question is to the Minister for Agriculture and Food. Agriculture is a very important part of the Western Australian economy, and people in this place will understand the importance of maintaining and developing trade relationships. Can the minister please update the house on the latest developments on the shipment of wheat to Saudi Arabia, how it came about, and what benefits it will bring back to Western Australia? Mr D.T. REDMAN replied: I thank the member for Murray–Wellington for the question. It is great to be asked a really important question in this house that relates to the economic development of Western Australia. It is clearly significant to a sector that is going through significant strain with the current dry season. I am very proud to announce that Western Australia recently sent a 55 000 tonne shipment of wheat to Saudi Arabia. The shipment by the CBH Group was the first sale of WA wheat to Saudi Arabia in more than 20 years. I am sure that even the opposition will concede that that is significant for our rural industry and obviously is significant for the grain-growing areas of Western Australia. The $12 million shipment that recently left the Esperance port follows my visit to Saudi Arabia last year in which we had a very strong focus on the fact that the Saudi Arabians are shifting away from their own domestic production of wheat and sourcing it from outside. It had some significant barriers to Western Australia in terms of the grain specification that they were prepared to accept. We were able to host a reciprocal visit of a Saudi delegation to Western Australia. We worked with those delegates and showed them the state’s grain production, research and storage facilities. They were clearly very impressed with that. We also worked with them to give them an understanding that Western Australian wheat can meet the end use requirements for the Saudis. On the back of that, Western Australian farmers are now able to supply wheat to the Saudi market. That 55 000 tonne shipment is certainly a significant milestone for the Western Australian grain industry. It is very much a combined effort of the state government through the Department of Agriculture and Food, the grains industry and the federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. It has taken us right back to the basics. Quite simply, we made sure we understood what the customer wanted and we went about delivering those outcomes. This is on the back of this state government’s focus on improvement and Western Australia leading the country in its grains research development and extension strategy. The government’s $30 million commitment to the development of the Australian export grain innovation centre will also attract national and international investment. The “new genes for new environments” facility at Katanning and Merredin will also utilise new GM technologies. The very progressive decision to grow GM canola in Western Australia has led to the fact that 72 000 hectares of GM canola are growing in the 2010 season. Early anecdotal evidence suggests that that canola is performing very well, even if it is a very tough season. The outcome of this shipment to Saudi Arabia is a win for industry and it certainly shows that the Liberal–National government is committed to fostering these precious trade relationships.
Agriculture is a very important part of the Western Australian economy, and people in this place will understand the importance of maintaining and developing trade relationships. Can the minister please update the house on the latest developments on the shipment of wheat to Saudi Arabia, how it came about, and what benefits it will bring back to Western Australia? Mr D.T. REDMAN replied: I thank the member for Murray–Wellington for the question. It is great to be asked a really important question in this house that relates to the economic development of Western Australia. It is clearly significant to a sector that is going through significant strain with the current dry season. I am very proud to announce that Western Australia recently sent a 55 000 tonne shipment of wheat to Saudi Arabia. The shipment by the CBH Group was the first sale of WA wheat to Saudi Arabia in more than 20 years. I am sure that even the opposition will concede that that is significant for our rural industry and obviously is significant for the grain-growing areas of Western Australia. The $12 million shipment that recently left the Esperance port follows my visit to Saudi Arabia last year in which we had a very strong focus on the fact that the Saudi Arabians are shifting away from their own domestic production of wheat and sourcing it from outside. It had some significant barriers to Western Australia in terms of the grain specification that they were prepared to accept. We were able to host a reciprocal visit of a Saudi delegation to Western Australia. We worked with those delegates and showed them the state’s grain production, research and storage facilities. They were clearly very impressed with that. We also worked with them to give them an understanding that Western Australian wheat can meet the end use requirements for the Saudis. On the back of that, Western Australian farmers are now able to supply wheat to the Saudi market. That 55 000 tonne shipment is certainly a significant milestone for the Western Australian grain industry. It is very much a combined effort of the state government through the Department of Agriculture and Food, the grains industry and the federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. It has taken us right back to the basics. Quite simply, we made sure we understood what the customer wanted and we went about delivering those outcomes. This is on the back of this state government’s focus on improvement and Western Australia leading the country in its grains research development and extension strategy. The government’s $30 million commitment to the development of the Australian export grain innovation centre will also attract national and international investment. The “new genes for new environments” facility at Katanning and Merredin will also utilise new GM technologies. The very progressive decision to grow GM canola in Western Australia has led to the fact that 72 000 hectares of GM canola are growing in the 2010 season. Early anecdotal evidence suggests that that canola is performing very well, even if it is a very tough season. The outcome of this shipment to Saudi Arabia is a win for industry and it certainly shows that the Liberal–National government is committed to fostering these precious trade relationships.
Mr D.T. REDMAN replied: I thank the member for Murray–Wellington for the question. It is great to be asked a really important question in this house that relates to the economic development of Western Australia. It is clearly significant to a sector that is going through significant strain with the current dry season. I am very proud to announce that Western Australia recently sent a 55 000 tonne shipment of wheat to Saudi Arabia. The shipment by the CBH Group was the first sale of WA wheat to Saudi Arabia in more than 20 years. I am sure that even the opposition will concede that that is significant for our rural industry and obviously is significant for the grain-growing areas of Western Australia. The $12 million shipment that recently left the Esperance port follows my visit to Saudi Arabia last year in which we had a very strong focus on the fact that the Saudi Arabians are shifting away from their own domestic production of wheat and sourcing it from outside. It had some significant barriers to Western Australia in terms of the grain specification that they were prepared to accept. We were able to host a reciprocal visit of a Saudi delegation to Western Australia. We worked with those delegates and showed them the state’s grain production, research and storage facilities. They were clearly very impressed with that. We also worked with them to give them an understanding that Western Australian wheat can meet the end use requirements for the Saudis. On the back of that, Western Australian farmers are now able to supply wheat to the Saudi market. That 55 000 tonne shipment is certainly a significant milestone for the Western Australian grain industry. It is very much a combined effort of the state government through the Department of Agriculture and Food, the grains industry and the federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. It has taken us right back to the basics. Quite simply, we made sure we understood what the customer wanted and we went about delivering those outcomes. This is on the back of this state government’s focus on improvement and Western Australia leading the country in its grains research development and extension strategy. The government’s $30 million commitment to the development of the Australian export grain innovation centre will also attract national and international investment. The “new genes for new environments” facility at Katanning and Merredin will also utilise new GM technologies. The very progressive decision to grow GM canola in Western Australia has led to the fact that 72 000 hectares of GM canola are growing in the 2010 season. Early anecdotal evidence suggests that that canola is performing very well, even if it is a very tough season. The outcome of this shipment to Saudi Arabia is a win for industry and it certainly shows that the Liberal–National government is committed to fostering these precious trade relationships.
I thank the member for Murray–Wellington for the question. It is great to be asked a really important question in this house that relates to the economic development of Western Australia. It is clearly significant to a sector that is going through significant strain with the current dry season. I am very proud to announce that Western Australia recently sent a 55 000 tonne shipment of wheat to Saudi Arabia. The shipment by the CBH Group was the first sale of WA wheat to Saudi Arabia in more than 20 years. I am sure that even the opposition will concede that that is significant for our rural industry and obviously is significant for the grain-growing areas of Western Australia. The $12 million shipment that recently left the Esperance port follows my visit to Saudi Arabia last year in which we had a very strong focus on the fact that the Saudi Arabians are shifting away from their own domestic production of wheat and sourcing it from outside. It had some significant barriers to Western Australia in terms of the grain specification that they were prepared to accept. We were able to host a reciprocal visit of a Saudi delegation to Western Australia. We worked with those delegates and showed them the state’s grain production, research and storage facilities. They were clearly very impressed with that. We also worked with them to give them an understanding that Western Australian wheat can meet the end use requirements for the Saudis. On the back of that, Western Australian farmers are now able to supply wheat to the Saudi market. That 55 000 tonne shipment is certainly a significant milestone for the Western Australian grain industry. It is very much a combined effort of the state government through the Department of Agriculture and Food, the grains industry and the federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. It has taken us right back to the basics. Quite simply, we made sure we understood what the customer wanted and we went about delivering those outcomes. This is on the back of this state government’s focus on improvement and Western Australia leading the country in its grains research development and extension strategy. The government’s $30 million commitment to the development of the Australian export grain innovation centre will also attract national and international investment. The “new genes for new environments” facility at Katanning and Merredin will also utilise new GM technologies. The very progressive decision to grow GM canola in Western Australia has led to the fact that 72 000 hectares of GM canola are growing in the 2010 season. Early anecdotal evidence suggests that that canola is performing very well, even if it is a very tough season. The outcome of this shipment to Saudi Arabia is a win for industry and it certainly shows that the Liberal–National government is committed to fostering these precious trade relationships.
That 55 000 tonne shipment is certainly a significant milestone for the Western Australian grain industry. It is very much a combined effort of the state government through the Department of Agriculture and Food, the grains industry and the federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. It has taken us right back to the basics. Quite simply, we made sure we understood what the customer wanted and we went about delivering those outcomes. This is on the back of this state government’s focus on improvement and Western Australia leading the country in its grains research development and extension strategy. The government’s $30 million commitment to the development of the Australian export grain innovation centre will also attract national and international investment. The “new genes for new environments” facility at Katanning and Merredin will also utilise new GM technologies. The very progressive decision to grow GM canola in Western Australia has led to the fact that 72 000 hectares of GM canola are growing in the 2010 season. Early anecdotal evidence suggests that that canola is performing very well, even if it is a very tough season. The outcome of this shipment to Saudi Arabia is a win for industry and it certainly shows that the Liberal–National government is committed to fostering these precious trade relationships.
The outcome of this shipment to Saudi Arabia is a win for industry and it certainly shows that the Liberal–National government is committed to fostering these precious trade relationships.
Mr T.G. Stephens : Who’s your question to? The SPEAKER : Take a seat. Member for Pilbara, if you want to ask questions in this place, I will give you the opportunity. But I prefer that you do not just scream out during someone else asking a question. I formally call you to order for the first time. Mr M.J. COWPER : For the benefit of the member for Pilbara, my question is to the Minister for Agriculture and Food. Agriculture is a very important part of the Western Australian economy, and people in this place will understand the importance of maintaining and developing trade relationships. Can the minister please update the house on the latest developments on the shipment of wheat to Saudi Arabia, how it came about, and what benefits it will bring back to Western Australia? Mr D.T. REDMAN replied: I thank the member for Murray–Wellington for the question. It is great to be asked a really important question in this house that relates to the economic development of Western Australia. It is clearly significant to a sector that is going through significant strain with the current dry season. I am very proud to announce that Western Australia recently sent a 55 000 tonne shipment of wheat to Saudi Arabia. The shipment by the CBH Group was the first sale of WA wheat to Saudi Arabia in more than 20 years. I am sure that even the opposition will concede that that is significant for our rural industry and obviously is significant for the grain-growing areas of Western Australia. The $12 million shipment that recently left the Esperance port follows my visit to Saudi Arabia last year in which we had a very strong focus on the fact that the Saudi Arabians are shifting away from their own domestic production of wheat and sourcing it from outside. It had some significant barriers to Western Australia in terms of the grain specification that they were prepared to accept. We were able to host a reciprocal visit of a Saudi delegation to Western Australia. We worked with those delegates and showed them the state’s grain production, research and storage facilities. They were clearly very impressed with that. We also worked with them to give them an understanding that Western Australian wheat can meet the end use requirements for the Saudis. On the back of that, Western Australian farmers are now able to supply wheat to the Saudi market. That 55 000 tonne shipment is certainly a significant milestone for the Western Australian grain industry. It is very much a combined effort of the state government through the Department of Agriculture and Food, the grains industry and the federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. It has taken us right back to the basics. Quite simply, we made sure we understood what the customer wanted and we went about delivering those outcomes. This is on the back of this state government’s focus on improvement and Western Australia leading the country in its grains research development and extension strategy. The government’s $30 million commitment to the development of the Australian export grain innovation centre will also attract national and international investment. The “new genes for new environments” facility at Katanning and Merredin will also utilise new GM technologies. The very progressive decision to grow GM canola in Western Australia has led to the fact that 72 000 hectares of GM canola are growing in the 2010 season. Early anecdotal evidence suggests that that canola is performing very well, even if it is a very tough season. The outcome of this shipment to Saudi Arabia is a win for industry and it certainly shows that the Liberal–National government is committed to fostering these precious trade relationships.
The SPEAKER : Take a seat. Member for Pilbara, if you want to ask questions in this place, I will give you the opportunity. But I prefer that you do not just scream out during someone else asking a question. I formally call you to order for the first time. Mr M.J. COWPER : For the benefit of the member for Pilbara, my question is to the Minister for Agriculture and Food. Agriculture is a very important part of the Western Australian economy, and people in this place will understand the importance of maintaining and developing trade relationships. Can the minister please update the house on the latest developments on the shipment of wheat to Saudi Arabia, how it came about, and what benefits it will bring back to Western Australia? Mr D.T. REDMAN replied: I thank the member for Murray–Wellington for the question. It is great to be asked a really important question in this house that relates to the economic development of Western Australia. It is clearly significant to a sector that is going through significant strain with the current dry season. I am very proud to announce that Western Australia recently sent a 55 000 tonne shipment of wheat to Saudi Arabia. The shipment by the CBH Group was the first sale of WA wheat to Saudi Arabia in more than 20 years. I am sure that even the opposition will concede that that is significant for our rural industry and obviously is significant for the grain-growing areas of Western Australia. The $12 million shipment that recently left the Esperance port follows my visit to Saudi Arabia last year in which we had a very strong focus on the fact that the Saudi Arabians are shifting away from their own domestic production of wheat and sourcing it from outside. It had some significant barriers to Western Australia in terms of the grain specification that they were prepared to accept. We were able to host a reciprocal visit of a Saudi delegation to Western Australia. We worked with those delegates and showed them the state’s grain production, research and storage facilities. They were clearly very impressed with that. We also worked with them to give them an understanding that Western Australian wheat can meet the end use requirements for the Saudis. On the back of that, Western Australian farmers are now able to supply wheat to the Saudi market. That 55 000 tonne shipment is certainly a significant milestone for the Western Australian grain industry. It is very much a combined effort of the state government through the Department of Agriculture and Food, the grains industry and the federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. It has taken us right back to the basics. Quite simply, we made sure we understood what the customer wanted and we went about delivering those outcomes. This is on the back of this state government’s focus on improvement and Western Australia leading the country in its grains research development and extension strategy. The government’s $30 million commitment to the development of the Australian export grain innovation centre will also attract national and international investment. The “new genes for new environments” facility at Katanning and Merredin will also utilise new GM technologies. The very progressive decision to grow GM canola in Western Australia has led to the fact that 72 000 hectares of GM canola are growing in the 2010 season. Early anecdotal evidence suggests that that canola is performing very well, even if it is a very tough season. The outcome of this shipment to Saudi Arabia is a win for industry and it certainly shows that the Liberal–National government is committed to fostering these precious trade relationships.
Mr M.J. COWPER : For the benefit of the member for Pilbara, my question is to the Minister for Agriculture and Food. Agriculture is a very important part of the Western Australian economy, and people in this place will understand the importance of maintaining and developing trade relationships. Can the minister please update the house on the latest developments on the shipment of wheat to Saudi Arabia, how it came about, and what benefits it will bring back to Western Australia? Mr D.T. REDMAN replied: I thank the member for Murray–Wellington for the question. It is great to be asked a really important question in this house that relates to the economic development of Western Australia. It is clearly significant to a sector that is going through significant strain with the current dry season. I am very proud to announce that Western Australia recently sent a 55 000 tonne shipment of wheat to Saudi Arabia. The shipment by the CBH Group was the first sale of WA wheat to Saudi Arabia in more than 20 years. I am sure that even the opposition will concede that that is significant for our rural industry and obviously is significant for the grain-growing areas of Western Australia. The $12 million shipment that recently left the Esperance port follows my visit to Saudi Arabia last year in which we had a very strong focus on the fact that the Saudi Arabians are shifting away from their own domestic production of wheat and sourcing it from outside. It had some significant barriers to Western Australia in terms of the grain specification that they were prepared to accept. We were able to host a reciprocal visit of a Saudi delegation to Western Australia. We worked with those delegates and showed them the state’s grain production, research and storage facilities. They were clearly very impressed with that. We also worked with them to give them an understanding that Western Australian wheat can meet the end use requirements for the Saudis. On the back of that, Western Australian farmers are now able to supply wheat to the Saudi market. That 55 000 tonne shipment is certainly a significant milestone for the Western Australian grain industry. It is very much a combined effort of the state government through the Department of Agriculture and Food, the grains industry and the federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. It has taken us right back to the basics. Quite simply, we made sure we understood what the customer wanted and we went about delivering those outcomes. This is on the back of this state government’s focus on improvement and Western Australia leading the country in its grains research development and extension strategy. The government’s $30 million commitment to the development of the Australian export grain innovation centre will also attract national and international investment. The “new genes for new environments” facility at Katanning and Merredin will also utilise new GM technologies. The very progressive decision to grow GM canola in Western Australia has led to the fact that 72 000 hectares of GM canola are growing in the 2010 season. Early anecdotal evidence suggests that that canola is performing very well, even if it is a very tough season. The outcome of this shipment to Saudi Arabia is a win for industry and it certainly shows that the Liberal–National government is committed to fostering these precious trade relationships.
Agriculture is a very important part of the Western Australian economy, and people in this place will understand the importance of maintaining and developing trade relationships. Can the minister please update the house on the latest developments on the shipment of wheat to Saudi Arabia, how it came about, and what benefits it will bring back to Western Australia? Mr D.T. REDMAN replied: I thank the member for Murray–Wellington for the question. It is great to be asked a really important question in this house that relates to the economic development of Western Australia. It is clearly significant to a sector that is going through significant strain with the current dry season. I am very proud to announce that Western Australia recently sent a 55 000 tonne shipment of wheat to Saudi Arabia. The shipment by the CBH Group was the first sale of WA wheat to Saudi Arabia in more than 20 years. I am sure that even the opposition will concede that that is significant for our rural industry and obviously is significant for the grain-growing areas of Western Australia. The $12 million shipment that recently left the Esperance port follows my visit to Saudi Arabia last year in which we had a very strong focus on the fact that the Saudi Arabians are shifting away from their own domestic production of wheat and sourcing it from outside. It had some significant barriers to Western Australia in terms of the grain specification that they were prepared to accept. We were able to host a reciprocal visit of a Saudi delegation to Western Australia. We worked with those delegates and showed them the state’s grain production, research and storage facilities. They were clearly very impressed with that. We also worked with them to give them an understanding that Western Australian wheat can meet the end use requirements for the Saudis. On the back of that, Western Australian farmers are now able to supply wheat to the Saudi market. That 55 000 tonne shipment is certainly a significant milestone for the Western Australian grain industry. It is very much a combined effort of the state government through the Department of Agriculture and Food, the grains industry and the federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. It has taken us right back to the basics. Quite simply, we made sure we understood what the customer wanted and we went about delivering those outcomes. This is on the back of this state government’s focus on improvement and Western Australia leading the country in its grains research development and extension strategy. The government’s $30 million commitment to the development of the Australian export grain innovation centre will also attract national and international investment. The “new genes for new environments” facility at Katanning and Merredin will also utilise new GM technologies. The very progressive decision to grow GM canola in Western Australia has led to the fact that 72 000 hectares of GM canola are growing in the 2010 season. Early anecdotal evidence suggests that that canola is performing very well, even if it is a very tough season. The outcome of this shipment to Saudi Arabia is a win for industry and it certainly shows that the Liberal–National government is committed to fostering these precious trade relationships.
Mr D.T. REDMAN replied: I thank the member for Murray–Wellington for the question. It is great to be asked a really important question in this house that relates to the economic development of Western Australia. It is clearly significant to a sector that is going through significant strain with the current dry season. I am very proud to announce that Western Australia recently sent a 55 000 tonne shipment of wheat to Saudi Arabia. The shipment by the CBH Group was the first sale of WA wheat to Saudi Arabia in more than 20 years. I am sure that even the opposition will concede that that is significant for our rural industry and obviously is significant for the grain-growing areas of Western Australia. The $12 million shipment that recently left the Esperance port follows my visit to Saudi Arabia last year in which we had a very strong focus on the fact that the Saudi Arabians are shifting away from their own domestic production of wheat and sourcing it from outside. It had some significant barriers to Western Australia in terms of the grain specification that they were prepared to accept. We were able to host a reciprocal visit of a Saudi delegation to Western Australia. We worked with those delegates and showed them the state’s grain production, research and storage facilities. They were clearly very impressed with that. We also worked with them to give them an understanding that Western Australian wheat can meet the end use requirements for the Saudis. On the back of that, Western Australian farmers are now able to supply wheat to the Saudi market. That 55 000 tonne shipment is certainly a significant milestone for the Western Australian grain industry. It is very much a combined effort of the state government through the Department of Agriculture and Food, the grains industry and the federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. It has taken us right back to the basics. Quite simply, we made sure we understood what the customer wanted and we went about delivering those outcomes. This is on the back of this state government’s focus on improvement and Western Australia leading the country in its grains research development and extension strategy. The government’s $30 million commitment to the development of the Australian export grain innovation centre will also attract national and international investment. The “new genes for new environments” facility at Katanning and Merredin will also utilise new GM technologies. The very progressive decision to grow GM canola in Western Australia has led to the fact that 72 000 hectares of GM canola are growing in the 2010 season. Early anecdotal evidence suggests that that canola is performing very well, even if it is a very tough season. The outcome of this shipment to Saudi Arabia is a win for industry and it certainly shows that the Liberal–National government is committed to fostering these precious trade relationships.
I thank the member for Murray–Wellington for the question. It is great to be asked a really important question in this house that relates to the economic development of Western Australia. It is clearly significant to a sector that is going through significant strain with the current dry season. I am very proud to announce that Western Australia recently sent a 55 000 tonne shipment of wheat to Saudi Arabia. The shipment by the CBH Group was the first sale of WA wheat to Saudi Arabia in more than 20 years. I am sure that even the opposition will concede that that is significant for our rural industry and obviously is significant for the grain-growing areas of Western Australia. The $12 million shipment that recently left the Esperance port follows my visit to Saudi Arabia last year in which we had a very strong focus on the fact that the Saudi Arabians are shifting away from their own domestic production of wheat and sourcing it from outside. It had some significant barriers to Western Australia in terms of the grain specification that they were prepared to accept. We were able to host a reciprocal visit of a Saudi delegation to Western Australia. We worked with those delegates and showed them the state’s grain production, research and storage facilities. They were clearly very impressed with that. We also worked with them to give them an understanding that Western Australian wheat can meet the end use requirements for the Saudis. On the back of that, Western Australian farmers are now able to supply wheat to the Saudi market. That 55 000 tonne shipment is certainly a significant milestone for the Western Australian grain industry. It is very much a combined effort of the state government through the Department of Agriculture and Food, the grains industry and the federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. It has taken us right back to the basics. Quite simply, we made sure we understood what the customer wanted and we went about delivering those outcomes. This is on the back of this state government’s focus on improvement and Western Australia leading the country in its grains research development and extension strategy. The government’s $30 million commitment to the development of the Australian export grain innovation centre will also attract national and international investment. The “new genes for new environments” facility at Katanning and Merredin will also utilise new GM technologies. The very progressive decision to grow GM canola in Western Australia has led to the fact that 72 000 hectares of GM canola are growing in the 2010 season. Early anecdotal evidence suggests that that canola is performing very well, even if it is a very tough season. The outcome of this shipment to Saudi Arabia is a win for industry and it certainly shows that the Liberal–National government is committed to fostering these precious trade relationships.
That 55 000 tonne shipment is certainly a significant milestone for the Western Australian grain industry. It is very much a combined effort of the state government through the Department of Agriculture and Food, the grains industry and the federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. It has taken us right back to the basics. Quite simply, we made sure we understood what the customer wanted and we went about delivering those outcomes. This is on the back of this state government’s focus on improvement and Western Australia leading the country in its grains research development and extension strategy. The government’s $30 million commitment to the development of the Australian export grain innovation centre will also attract national and international investment. The “new genes for new environments” facility at Katanning and Merredin will also utilise new GM technologies. The very progressive decision to grow GM canola in Western Australia has led to the fact that 72 000 hectares of GM canola are growing in the 2010 season. Early anecdotal evidence suggests that that canola is performing very well, even if it is a very tough season. The outcome of this shipment to Saudi Arabia is a win for industry and it certainly shows that the Liberal–National government is committed to fostering these precious trade relationships.
The outcome of this shipment to Saudi Arabia is a win for industry and it certainly shows that the Liberal–National government is committed to fostering these precious trade relationships.
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