❓ Question regarding the McGowan Labor government's $131 million funding boost for the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, and how it addresses previous funding cuts. The Premier defends the funding boost and criticises the previous government's cuts, citing WAFarmers' support.
AnsweredQoN 355Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY
INDUSTRIES AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT —GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
355. Ms
J.J. SHAW to the Premier:
(1) Can the
Premier outline to the house how the McGowan Labor government's $131 million
funding boost for the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
will support our agriculture industry and help create jobs?
(2) Can the
Premier advise the house how this funding will address the cuts inflicted on
the department by the former Liberal–National government?
INDUSTRIES AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT —GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
355. Ms
J.J. SHAW to the Premier:
(1) Can the
Premier outline to the house how the McGowan Labor government's $131 million
funding boost for the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
will support our agriculture industry and help create jobs?
(2) Can the
Premier advise the house how this funding will address the cuts inflicted on
the department by the former Liberal–National government?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Swan Hills
for the question.
(1)–(2) Clearly,
we want to ensure that agriculture continues to create jobs and support
economic development in Western Australia. We want to protect the biosecurity
of the agricultural sector and help agricultural businesses to get access to
critical export markets. That is why, as part of this budget, we provided the
biggest boost towards agriculture in at least a decade. We have strengthened
the role of the department of agriculture and arrested the decline in funding
that took place under the last Liberal–National government. We have
provided $131.5 million in extra spending for the Department of Primary
Industries and Regional Development so that it has a sustainable footing in
which to deliver the services that it provides to the people of Western Australia.
Clearly, under the government from 2008 to 2017, funding for the agriculture
department was slashed.
Mr D.T. Redman interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The member can
keep interjecting, but that is the truth of it—he can ask anyone.
Funding was slashed and there was a further —
Mr D.T. Redman interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Warren–Blackwood!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Funding was
slashed and there was a further 37 per cent cut in the forward estimates when
we came to office. We have injected $131.5 million to boost biosecurity
defences, support market programs into Asia, grains research and development
programs, helping attract and retain staff, keeping scientists and agronomists
in Western Australia, supporting R&D, and biosecurity capability.
It is just not me saying that. I heard
the snippy interjecting from across the chamber. I have here a press release
issued by none other than Mr Trevor Whittington from WAFarmers. Members
opposite may know Trevor Whittington. I know Trevor Whittington—he was
the chief of staff to a range of ministers for agriculture in the last
government! He is now the CEO of WAFarmers. What has he had to say? I will
quote from a press release issued last week. He is prepared to comment on the
budget, unlike the opposition. Let me read it out. It is not just me saying it.
I quote this to the house —
This is a credit to
Minister Alannah MacTiernan as it is the first time in 20 years we have seen a Minister
stand up to Treasury and not just hold the line, but push back and demand the
level of funding support needed to help the industry grow.
�
We have already
had announcements this year of new funding support for biosecurity, dog fences,
mobile phone black spots, Asian market trade support, and grains research and
development.
WAFarmers acknowledges the Minister's focus on these areas and
the serious dollars she has put into them.
The concluding quote, from WAFarmers'
Mr Rhys Turton, states —
� ''credit is needed where
credit is due, the Treasurer and Minister for Agriculture have delivered a good
budget which will help set up agriculture for the next four years.''
It is clear that the government is
on the side of the farmers, the government is on the side of the department of
agriculture and the government is on the side of the regions, and is repairing
the damage created by the Liberals and Nationals when they were in office. They
gutted the department of agriculture when they were in office.
for the question.
(1)–(2) Clearly,
we want to ensure that agriculture continues to create jobs and support
economic development in Western Australia. We want to protect the biosecurity
of the agricultural sector and help agricultural businesses to get access to
critical export markets. That is why, as part of this budget, we provided the
biggest boost towards agriculture in at least a decade. We have strengthened
the role of the department of agriculture and arrested the decline in funding
that took place under the last Liberal–National government. We have
provided $131.5 million in extra spending for the Department of Primary
Industries and Regional Development so that it has a sustainable footing in
which to deliver the services that it provides to the people of Western Australia.
Clearly, under the government from 2008 to 2017, funding for the agriculture
department was slashed.
Mr D.T. Redman interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The member can
keep interjecting, but that is the truth of it—he can ask anyone.
Funding was slashed and there was a further —
Mr D.T. Redman interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Warren–Blackwood!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Funding was
slashed and there was a further 37 per cent cut in the forward estimates when
we came to office. We have injected $131.5 million to boost biosecurity
defences, support market programs into Asia, grains research and development
programs, helping attract and retain staff, keeping scientists and agronomists
in Western Australia, supporting R&D, and biosecurity capability.
It is just not me saying that. I heard
the snippy interjecting from across the chamber. I have here a press release
issued by none other than Mr Trevor Whittington from WAFarmers. Members
opposite may know Trevor Whittington. I know Trevor Whittington—he was
the chief of staff to a range of ministers for agriculture in the last
government! He is now the CEO of WAFarmers. What has he had to say? I will
quote from a press release issued last week. He is prepared to comment on the
budget, unlike the opposition. Let me read it out. It is not just me saying it.
I quote this to the house —
This is a credit to
Minister Alannah MacTiernan as it is the first time in 20 years we have seen a Minister
stand up to Treasury and not just hold the line, but push back and demand the
level of funding support needed to help the industry grow.
�
We have already
had announcements this year of new funding support for biosecurity, dog fences,
mobile phone black spots, Asian market trade support, and grains research and
development.
WAFarmers acknowledges the Minister's focus on these areas and
the serious dollars she has put into them.
The concluding quote, from WAFarmers'
Mr Rhys Turton, states —
� ''credit is needed where
credit is due, the Treasurer and Minister for Agriculture have delivered a good
budget which will help set up agriculture for the next four years.''
It is clear that the government is
on the side of the farmers, the government is on the side of the department of
agriculture and the government is on the side of the regions, and is repairing
the damage created by the Liberals and Nationals when they were in office. They
gutted the department of agriculture when they were in office.
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