❓ Mrs Harvey asks the Premier to detail China's reasoning for imposing tariffs on Australian barley and outline the government's response plan. The Premier acknowledges the question but states he cannot answer China's reasoning, highlighting government support for the industry through research and alternative market exploration.
AnsweredQoN 302Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
BARLEY EXPORTS —
CHINESE TARIFFS
302. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Premier:
Can the Premier please provide the
specific detail behind China's argument for introducing a tariff on the
$1 billion barley industry and outline to the house his detailed response plan
to assist impacted farmers?
CHINESE TARIFFS
302. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Premier:
Can the Premier please provide the
specific detail behind China's argument for introducing a tariff on the
$1 billion barley industry and outline to the house his detailed response plan
to assist impacted farmers?
AnswerView source ↗
I think the first part of the
question asked me what the Chinese plan was—was that correct?
Ms R. Saffioti : The Chinese
reasoning.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The Chinese
reasoning. I cannot answer that. That is not something that —
Mr B.S. Wyatt : Is that
because you're not Chinese?
Mr M. McGOWAN : I cannot
answer what the Chinese reasoning was. It is quite a bizarre question to ask me
to answer that. All I can say is that from our point of view we have every
confidence that Australian barley is neither being dumped nor subsidised by
Australian farmers or Australian industry. That is our point of view in
relation to this matter. That is the point of view of the agriculture minister
and the Western Australian government. Indeed, that is also the point of view
of the Australian government. The Western Australian government has supported
the industry. We will continue to work with the industry to find alternative
markets, if that is what is required, and clearly it will be at this point in
time. We will also work with the industry to provide assistance in relation to
research. Grains research has been one of the success stories of the government.
From memory, it is something in the vicinity of $60 million that this
government has put towards grains research. It is very important for industry.
As the Leader of the Opposition knows, the productivity of our grain farmers or
grain producers has increased significantly over the last 30 or 40 years, and
that is basically because of scientific research. I saw some figures at one
point that said there has been a threefold increase in productivity, whilst
rainfall has gone down perhaps over the last couple of decades, which is really
quite extraordinary. That is because of the scientific research or the
scientific way that the farmers farm. It is a credit to them, but also a credit
to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and all of the
grains research we have put in. My advice to the Leader of the Opposition is
that if she wants to know or understand the reasoning, she might want to
contact the ambassador.
question asked me what the Chinese plan was—was that correct?
Ms R. Saffioti : The Chinese
reasoning.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The Chinese
reasoning. I cannot answer that. That is not something that —
Mr B.S. Wyatt : Is that
because you're not Chinese?
Mr M. McGOWAN : I cannot
answer what the Chinese reasoning was. It is quite a bizarre question to ask me
to answer that. All I can say is that from our point of view we have every
confidence that Australian barley is neither being dumped nor subsidised by
Australian farmers or Australian industry. That is our point of view in
relation to this matter. That is the point of view of the agriculture minister
and the Western Australian government. Indeed, that is also the point of view
of the Australian government. The Western Australian government has supported
the industry. We will continue to work with the industry to find alternative
markets, if that is what is required, and clearly it will be at this point in
time. We will also work with the industry to provide assistance in relation to
research. Grains research has been one of the success stories of the government.
From memory, it is something in the vicinity of $60 million that this
government has put towards grains research. It is very important for industry.
As the Leader of the Opposition knows, the productivity of our grain farmers or
grain producers has increased significantly over the last 30 or 40 years, and
that is basically because of scientific research. I saw some figures at one
point that said there has been a threefold increase in productivity, whilst
rainfall has gone down perhaps over the last couple of decades, which is really
quite extraordinary. That is because of the scientific research or the
scientific way that the farmers farm. It is a credit to them, but also a credit
to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and all of the
grains research we have put in. My advice to the Leader of the Opposition is
that if she wants to know or understand the reasoning, she might want to
contact the ambassador.
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