❓ A WA parliamentary question scrutinising the Minister for Regional Development regarding rice productivity in the Ord River Irrigation Area, questioning yields, accuracy of reported figures, marketing opportunities, and future processing facilities. The Minister's answers are often vague and non-committal.
AnsweredQoN 4227Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the answer provided by the Minister on 12 October 2010 to Question On Notice 3987 and the answer the Minister provided to Question Without Notice 433 on 19 August 2010, and I ask:
(a) why does the Minister consider rice productivity in the commercial scale trials of 6 tons per hectare to be very encouraging, when this is more than 25 percent below the national five-year average for rice productivity in Australia;
(b) is it true that one of the reasons for the below Australian-average productivity for the rice grown in the Ord lands, is because of native birds eating the rice while it is still growing;
(c) why did the Minister tell the House on 19 August 2010 that 1,700 tons of rice had been grown in the commercial scale trial when only 1,440 tons had been grown;
(d) what are the high-value niche marketing opportunities through the Sunrice connections that are being made available to Ord growers;
(e) why did the Minister tell the House on 19 August 2010 that there will be up to 10,000 tonnes of rice in next year’s harvest when that is actually the target over 2 or 3 years;
(f) how does the Minister reconcile the statement on 19 August 2010 that growers on the ground see the ability for up to 80,000 or 100,00 tonnes of production, with his answer of 12 October 2010 that the industry’s current aspirations with rice are around 50,000 tonnes;
(g) can the Minster advise what are the:
(i) more downstream processing facilities that industry players are seeking to establish in the East Kimberley;
(ii) current rice-industry processing facilities that already exist in the East Kimberley;
(iii) sites for these existing and future facilities;
(iv) names of companies that have currently made proposals to the Government to establish such new facilities;
(v) expected time-frames on the establishment of such new facilities; and
(vi) expected costs of Government-provided infrastructure for these new facilities;
(h) can the Minister assure the community that there will be no direct capital subsidies for the establishment of the new commercial facilities described in his previous answer;
(i) in respect of the diversified crop scenario that the Minister referred to in his answer of 12 October 2010, what are the other crops and tonnages that will make up this scenario; and
(j) given that the Minister said in his answer of 12 October 2010 that the industry has to yet finalise its commercial rice processing arrangements, is it expected that any of the rice grown in the Ord will ever be sold for final consumption in Australia?
(a) why does the Minister consider rice productivity in the commercial scale trials of 6 tons per hectare to be very encouraging, when this is more than 25 percent below the national five-year average for rice productivity in Australia;
(b) is it true that one of the reasons for the below Australian-average productivity for the rice grown in the Ord lands, is because of native birds eating the rice while it is still growing;
(c) why did the Minister tell the House on 19 August 2010 that 1,700 tons of rice had been grown in the commercial scale trial when only 1,440 tons had been grown;
(d) what are the high-value niche marketing opportunities through the Sunrice connections that are being made available to Ord growers;
(e) why did the Minister tell the House on 19 August 2010 that there will be up to 10,000 tonnes of rice in next year’s harvest when that is actually the target over 2 or 3 years;
(f) how does the Minister reconcile the statement on 19 August 2010 that growers on the ground see the ability for up to 80,000 or 100,00 tonnes of production, with his answer of 12 October 2010 that the industry’s current aspirations with rice are around 50,000 tonnes;
(g) can the Minster advise what are the:
(i) more downstream processing facilities that industry players are seeking to establish in the East Kimberley;
(ii) current rice-industry processing facilities that already exist in the East Kimberley;
(iii) sites for these existing and future facilities;
(iv) names of companies that have currently made proposals to the Government to establish such new facilities;
(v) expected time-frames on the establishment of such new facilities; and
(vi) expected costs of Government-provided infrastructure for these new facilities;
(h) can the Minister assure the community that there will be no direct capital subsidies for the establishment of the new commercial facilities described in his previous answer;
(i) in respect of the diversified crop scenario that the Minister referred to in his answer of 12 October 2010, what are the other crops and tonnages that will make up this scenario; and
(j) given that the Minister said in his answer of 12 October 2010 that the industry has to yet finalise its commercial rice processing arrangements, is it expected that any of the rice grown in the Ord will ever be sold for final consumption in Australia?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
24 November 2010
Responded by
Minister for Regional Development
Response time
35 days
(a) The 2010 commercial trial involved the use of a range of production variables, including rice varieties, optimal seeding times, seeding rates, growing techniques and fertilizer regimes. Yields per hectare varied, depending upon the variables. Consistent with the nature of the trial, the yields varied from four to 8.5 tonnes per hectare.
(b) No. I am advised that native birds posed no problems to the 2010 rice crop.
(c) 1700 tonnes was the pre-harvest estimate provided by industry. 1440 tonnes was the actual production result at the end of harvest.
(d) Commercial marketing arrangements are between Ord growers and Sunrice.
(e) The data quoted represents the aspirations of various growers in the Ord area.
(f) The data quoted represents the aspirations of various growers in the Ord area.
(g)
(i) Industry players and Sunrice are known to be considering options for rice processing. Downstream processing options come as a potential result of ongoing production, from a range of crops.
(ii) Privately owned harvesting, drying, dehulling and storage and handling facilities exist in the East Kimberley.
iii) Private facilities are available in Kununurra and Wyndham, sites for future facilities are not yet determined.
(iv) No proposals for new facilities have been made to Government at this time.
(v) Not applicable
(vi) Not applicable
(h) The Government has not made a direct capital subsidy for new commercial facilities mentioned in this answer.
(i) Rice is expected to be part of a diversified cropping scenario that will sustain the Ord. That diversity will change over time; depending upon marketing and agronomic factors. No comprehensive estimates of future tonnages by crop are available at this time.
(j) Future market arrangements are not currently known.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
(b) No. I am advised that native birds posed no problems to the 2010 rice crop.
(c) 1700 tonnes was the pre-harvest estimate provided by industry. 1440 tonnes was the actual production result at the end of harvest.
(d) Commercial marketing arrangements are between Ord growers and Sunrice.
(e) The data quoted represents the aspirations of various growers in the Ord area.
(f) The data quoted represents the aspirations of various growers in the Ord area.
(g)
(i) Industry players and Sunrice are known to be considering options for rice processing. Downstream processing options come as a potential result of ongoing production, from a range of crops.
(ii) Privately owned harvesting, drying, dehulling and storage and handling facilities exist in the East Kimberley.
iii) Private facilities are available in Kununurra and Wyndham, sites for future facilities are not yet determined.
(iv) No proposals for new facilities have been made to Government at this time.
(v) Not applicable
(vi) Not applicable
(h) The Government has not made a direct capital subsidy for new commercial facilities mentioned in this answer.
(i) Rice is expected to be part of a diversified cropping scenario that will sustain the Ord. That diversity will change over time; depending upon marketing and agronomic factors. No comprehensive estimates of future tonnages by crop are available at this time.
(j) Future market arrangements are not currently known.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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