❓ Mr. Redman questions the Minister for State Development about the types of crops needed for the Ord River Scheme expansion, specifically regarding sugar cane viability and the potential for genetically modified cotton cultivation. The Minister avoids a direct answer, deferring to the private sector's investment decisions.
AnsweredQoN 315Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ORD RIVER SCHEME - IRRIGATED LAND
I refer to the minister’s comments yesterday about a grand vision for the Ord River scheme and the rolling out of an additional 30 000 hectares of irrigated land. (1) Does the minister concede that large-scale broadacre crops such as sugar cane or cotton would be required to achieve such a vision? (2) Given the minister’s negative comments about the viability of sugar cane, is the minister prepared to support the lifting of the moratorium to allow for the cultivation of genetically modified cotton in the Ord valley? Mr E.S. RIPPER
I refer to the minister’s comments yesterday about a grand vision for the Ord River scheme and the rolling out of an additional 30 000 hectares of irrigated land. (1) Does the minister concede that large-scale broadacre crops such as sugar cane or cotton would be required to achieve such a vision? (2) Given the minister’s negative comments about the viability of sugar cane, is the minister prepared to support the lifting of the moratorium to allow for the cultivation of genetically modified cotton in the Ord valley? Mr E.S. RIPPER
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) I think decision about the crops to be grown in the Ord valley will come out of the expressions of interest process. The government is not going to be investing in the on-farm development. The government has a potential role in providing common-user infrastructure, in partnership with the commonwealth. However, in the final analysis, the crops to be grown - I think a variety of crops will be grown - will be determined by the private sector and the investment decisions that it wishes to make.
(1) Does the minister concede that large-scale broadacre crops such as sugar cane or cotton would be required to achieve such a vision? (2) Given the minister’s negative comments about the viability of sugar cane, is the minister prepared to support the lifting of the moratorium to allow for the cultivation of genetically modified cotton in the Ord valley? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) I think decision about the crops to be grown in the Ord valley will come out of the expressions of interest process. The government is not going to be investing in the on-farm development. The government has a potential role in providing common-user infrastructure, in partnership with the commonwealth. However, in the final analysis, the crops to be grown - I think a variety of crops will be grown - will be determined by the private sector and the investment decisions that it wishes to make.
(2) Given the minister’s negative comments about the viability of sugar cane, is the minister prepared to support the lifting of the moratorium to allow for the cultivation of genetically modified cotton in the Ord valley? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) I think decision about the crops to be grown in the Ord valley will come out of the expressions of interest process. The government is not going to be investing in the on-farm development. The government has a potential role in providing common-user infrastructure, in partnership with the commonwealth. However, in the final analysis, the crops to be grown - I think a variety of crops will be grown - will be determined by the private sector and the investment decisions that it wishes to make.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) I think decision about the crops to be grown in the Ord valley will come out of the expressions of interest process. The government is not going to be investing in the on-farm development. The government has a potential role in providing common-user infrastructure, in partnership with the commonwealth. However, in the final analysis, the crops to be grown - I think a variety of crops will be grown - will be determined by the private sector and the investment decisions that it wishes to make.
(1)-(2) I think decision about the crops to be grown in the Ord valley will come out of the expressions of interest process. The government is not going to be investing in the on-farm development. The government has a potential role in providing common-user infrastructure, in partnership with the commonwealth. However, in the final analysis, the crops to be grown - I think a variety of crops will be grown - will be determined by the private sector and the investment decisions that it wishes to make.
(1) Does the minister concede that large-scale broadacre crops such as sugar cane or cotton would be required to achieve such a vision? (2) Given the minister’s negative comments about the viability of sugar cane, is the minister prepared to support the lifting of the moratorium to allow for the cultivation of genetically modified cotton in the Ord valley? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) I think decision about the crops to be grown in the Ord valley will come out of the expressions of interest process. The government is not going to be investing in the on-farm development. The government has a potential role in providing common-user infrastructure, in partnership with the commonwealth. However, in the final analysis, the crops to be grown - I think a variety of crops will be grown - will be determined by the private sector and the investment decisions that it wishes to make.
(2) Given the minister’s negative comments about the viability of sugar cane, is the minister prepared to support the lifting of the moratorium to allow for the cultivation of genetically modified cotton in the Ord valley? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) I think decision about the crops to be grown in the Ord valley will come out of the expressions of interest process. The government is not going to be investing in the on-farm development. The government has a potential role in providing common-user infrastructure, in partnership with the commonwealth. However, in the final analysis, the crops to be grown - I think a variety of crops will be grown - will be determined by the private sector and the investment decisions that it wishes to make.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) I think decision about the crops to be grown in the Ord valley will come out of the expressions of interest process. The government is not going to be investing in the on-farm development. The government has a potential role in providing common-user infrastructure, in partnership with the commonwealth. However, in the final analysis, the crops to be grown - I think a variety of crops will be grown - will be determined by the private sector and the investment decisions that it wishes to make.
(1)-(2) I think decision about the crops to be grown in the Ord valley will come out of the expressions of interest process. The government is not going to be investing in the on-farm development. The government has a potential role in providing common-user infrastructure, in partnership with the commonwealth. However, in the final analysis, the crops to be grown - I think a variety of crops will be grown - will be determined by the private sector and the investment decisions that it wishes to make.
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