❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses damage to Carnarvon horticultural industries from extreme weather. The Minister acknowledges the issue, details compensation fund access problems, and suggests a review of the compensation scheme.
AnsweredQoN 365Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
CARNARVON HORTICULTURAL INDUSTRIES
I refer to the damage suffered by Carnarvon horticultural producers, particularly banana growers, as a consequence of extreme heat and wind conditions experienced in the area in March this year. (1) What measures are available to reduce the impact of extreme and uncommon weather events on the region’s horticultural industries? (2) Does the experience of the crop losses in March provide any lessons for the future operation of a scheme to reduce the impact of a range of adverse climatic conditions or weather events on the sustainability of horticultural activities in the region? Hon KIM CHANCE
I refer to the damage suffered by Carnarvon horticultural producers, particularly banana growers, as a consequence of extreme heat and wind conditions experienced in the area in March this year. (1) What measures are available to reduce the impact of extreme and uncommon weather events on the region’s horticultural industries? (2) Does the experience of the crop losses in March provide any lessons for the future operation of a scheme to reduce the impact of a range of adverse climatic conditions or weather events on the sustainability of horticultural activities in the region? Hon KIM CHANCE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank Hon Vince Catania for handing me a copy of this question as I walked into the chamber at question time today. Hon Norman Moore : I thought you handed it to him! Hon KIM CHANCE : No. I can assure the Leader of the Opposition that is not the case. Hon Norman Moore : I am sorry; I misunderstood. Hon KIM CHANCE : The answer is - (1) The question does provide me with the opportunity to recognise that in March this year a horrendous wind and heat event decimated banana crops in Carnarvon and caused hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage. There was a difficulty in accessing the compensation funds that would normally be available through the banana industry compensation fund, which is administered by the Agricultural Produce Commission, in that there was a perception that the claim related solely to the high-temperature event. I think the temperature went up over 47 degrees on that occasion. However, the information that had not been transmitted to the APC was that those winds were cyclone-associated winds. That was not made clear. At the very persistent urging of Hon Nick Catania, I spoke to the chairman of the Agricultural Produce Commission. We discussed possible resolutions that then came to light in discussions between the APC and the Department of Agriculture and Food that a wind event was associated with the high temperatures. I am happy to tell Hon Nick Catania now, because he may not know this, that late yesterday the Agricultural Produce Commission made a determination that $750 000 will be released from the banana industry compensation fund to assist those growers to deal with that issue. I recognise, without any irony at all, that Hon Nick Catania has been very persistent in this matter. Hon Norman Moore : So has Vince. Hon KIM CHANCE : Sorry. Did I say “Nick”? Well, Nick was too. Hon Vince Catania, even more so than Nick, was particularly persistent in representing the interests of the banana growers. I know that they will want me to thank him for that intervention. (2) Yes. The events that can trigger a payment from the banana industry compensation fund are fairly narrow in their specification. I think this fund was initially established to deal with cyclonic events only. It is clear that a range of issues challenge tropical horticulture anywhere. It seems to me that this event has provided a prompt for the industry to get together with the Agricultural Produce Commission to look at the factors that can trigger a payment from the compensation fund and resolve these things so that we do not have this unfortunate delay - it is now the end of May; this event happened in March and the growers have been carrying those losses ever since - and we avoid this incident ever happening again. The Agricultural Produce Commission Act is due for review. We may also use this incident to bear in mind what amendments may be necessary to the APC act when it comes in for review, hopefully later this year.
(1) What measures are available to reduce the impact of extreme and uncommon weather events on the region’s horticultural industries? (2) Does the experience of the crop losses in March provide any lessons for the future operation of a scheme to reduce the impact of a range of adverse climatic conditions or weather events on the sustainability of horticultural activities in the region? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Vince Catania for handing me a copy of this question as I walked into the chamber at question time today. Hon Norman Moore : I thought you handed it to him! Hon KIM CHANCE : No. I can assure the Leader of the Opposition that is not the case. Hon Norman Moore : I am sorry; I misunderstood. Hon KIM CHANCE : The answer is - (1) The question does provide me with the opportunity to recognise that in March this year a horrendous wind and heat event decimated banana crops in Carnarvon and caused hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage. There was a difficulty in accessing the compensation funds that would normally be available through the banana industry compensation fund, which is administered by the Agricultural Produce Commission, in that there was a perception that the claim related solely to the high-temperature event. I think the temperature went up over 47 degrees on that occasion. However, the information that had not been transmitted to the APC was that those winds were cyclone-associated winds. That was not made clear. At the very persistent urging of Hon Nick Catania, I spoke to the chairman of the Agricultural Produce Commission. We discussed possible resolutions that then came to light in discussions between the APC and the Department of Agriculture and Food that a wind event was associated with the high temperatures. I am happy to tell Hon Nick Catania now, because he may not know this, that late yesterday the Agricultural Produce Commission made a determination that $750 000 will be released from the banana industry compensation fund to assist those growers to deal with that issue. I recognise, without any irony at all, that Hon Nick Catania has been very persistent in this matter. Hon Norman Moore : So has Vince. Hon KIM CHANCE : Sorry. Did I say “Nick”? Well, Nick was too. Hon Vince Catania, even more so than Nick, was particularly persistent in representing the interests of the banana growers. I know that they will want me to thank him for that intervention. (2) Yes. The events that can trigger a payment from the banana industry compensation fund are fairly narrow in their specification. I think this fund was initially established to deal with cyclonic events only. It is clear that a range of issues challenge tropical horticulture anywhere. It seems to me that this event has provided a prompt for the industry to get together with the Agricultural Produce Commission to look at the factors that can trigger a payment from the compensation fund and resolve these things so that we do not have this unfortunate delay - it is now the end of May; this event happened in March and the growers have been carrying those losses ever since - and we avoid this incident ever happening again. The Agricultural Produce Commission Act is due for review. We may also use this incident to bear in mind what amendments may be necessary to the APC act when it comes in for review, hopefully later this year.
(2) Does the experience of the crop losses in March provide any lessons for the future operation of a scheme to reduce the impact of a range of adverse climatic conditions or weather events on the sustainability of horticultural activities in the region? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Vince Catania for handing me a copy of this question as I walked into the chamber at question time today. Hon Norman Moore : I thought you handed it to him! Hon KIM CHANCE : No. I can assure the Leader of the Opposition that is not the case. Hon Norman Moore : I am sorry; I misunderstood. Hon KIM CHANCE : The answer is - (1) The question does provide me with the opportunity to recognise that in March this year a horrendous wind and heat event decimated banana crops in Carnarvon and caused hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage. There was a difficulty in accessing the compensation funds that would normally be available through the banana industry compensation fund, which is administered by the Agricultural Produce Commission, in that there was a perception that the claim related solely to the high-temperature event. I think the temperature went up over 47 degrees on that occasion. However, the information that had not been transmitted to the APC was that those winds were cyclone-associated winds. That was not made clear. At the very persistent urging of Hon Nick Catania, I spoke to the chairman of the Agricultural Produce Commission. We discussed possible resolutions that then came to light in discussions between the APC and the Department of Agriculture and Food that a wind event was associated with the high temperatures. I am happy to tell Hon Nick Catania now, because he may not know this, that late yesterday the Agricultural Produce Commission made a determination that $750 000 will be released from the banana industry compensation fund to assist those growers to deal with that issue. I recognise, without any irony at all, that Hon Nick Catania has been very persistent in this matter. Hon Norman Moore : So has Vince. Hon KIM CHANCE : Sorry. Did I say “Nick”? Well, Nick was too. Hon Vince Catania, even more so than Nick, was particularly persistent in representing the interests of the banana growers. I know that they will want me to thank him for that intervention. (2) Yes. The events that can trigger a payment from the banana industry compensation fund are fairly narrow in their specification. I think this fund was initially established to deal with cyclonic events only. It is clear that a range of issues challenge tropical horticulture anywhere. It seems to me that this event has provided a prompt for the industry to get together with the Agricultural Produce Commission to look at the factors that can trigger a payment from the compensation fund and resolve these things so that we do not have this unfortunate delay - it is now the end of May; this event happened in March and the growers have been carrying those losses ever since - and we avoid this incident ever happening again. The Agricultural Produce Commission Act is due for review. We may also use this incident to bear in mind what amendments may be necessary to the APC act when it comes in for review, hopefully later this year.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Vince Catania for handing me a copy of this question as I walked into the chamber at question time today. Hon Norman Moore : I thought you handed it to him! Hon KIM CHANCE : No. I can assure the Leader of the Opposition that is not the case. Hon Norman Moore : I am sorry; I misunderstood. Hon KIM CHANCE : The answer is - (1) The question does provide me with the opportunity to recognise that in March this year a horrendous wind and heat event decimated banana crops in Carnarvon and caused hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage. There was a difficulty in accessing the compensation funds that would normally be available through the banana industry compensation fund, which is administered by the Agricultural Produce Commission, in that there was a perception that the claim related solely to the high-temperature event. I think the temperature went up over 47 degrees on that occasion. However, the information that had not been transmitted to the APC was that those winds were cyclone-associated winds. That was not made clear. At the very persistent urging of Hon Nick Catania, I spoke to the chairman of the Agricultural Produce Commission. We discussed possible resolutions that then came to light in discussions between the APC and the Department of Agriculture and Food that a wind event was associated with the high temperatures. I am happy to tell Hon Nick Catania now, because he may not know this, that late yesterday the Agricultural Produce Commission made a determination that $750 000 will be released from the banana industry compensation fund to assist those growers to deal with that issue. I recognise, without any irony at all, that Hon Nick Catania has been very persistent in this matter. Hon Norman Moore : So has Vince. Hon KIM CHANCE : Sorry. Did I say “Nick”? Well, Nick was too. Hon Vince Catania, even more so than Nick, was particularly persistent in representing the interests of the banana growers. I know that they will want me to thank him for that intervention. (2) Yes. The events that can trigger a payment from the banana industry compensation fund are fairly narrow in their specification. I think this fund was initially established to deal with cyclonic events only. It is clear that a range of issues challenge tropical horticulture anywhere. It seems to me that this event has provided a prompt for the industry to get together with the Agricultural Produce Commission to look at the factors that can trigger a payment from the compensation fund and resolve these things so that we do not have this unfortunate delay - it is now the end of May; this event happened in March and the growers have been carrying those losses ever since - and we avoid this incident ever happening again. The Agricultural Produce Commission Act is due for review. We may also use this incident to bear in mind what amendments may be necessary to the APC act when it comes in for review, hopefully later this year.
I thank Hon Vince Catania for handing me a copy of this question as I walked into the chamber at question time today. Hon Norman Moore : I thought you handed it to him! Hon KIM CHANCE : No. I can assure the Leader of the Opposition that is not the case. Hon Norman Moore : I am sorry; I misunderstood. Hon KIM CHANCE : The answer is - (1) The question does provide me with the opportunity to recognise that in March this year a horrendous wind and heat event decimated banana crops in Carnarvon and caused hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage. There was a difficulty in accessing the compensation funds that would normally be available through the banana industry compensation fund, which is administered by the Agricultural Produce Commission, in that there was a perception that the claim related solely to the high-temperature event. I think the temperature went up over 47 degrees on that occasion. However, the information that had not been transmitted to the APC was that those winds were cyclone-associated winds. That was not made clear. At the very persistent urging of Hon Nick Catania, I spoke to the chairman of the Agricultural Produce Commission. We discussed possible resolutions that then came to light in discussions between the APC and the Department of Agriculture and Food that a wind event was associated with the high temperatures. I am happy to tell Hon Nick Catania now, because he may not know this, that late yesterday the Agricultural Produce Commission made a determination that $750 000 will be released from the banana industry compensation fund to assist those growers to deal with that issue. I recognise, without any irony at all, that Hon Nick Catania has been very persistent in this matter. Hon Norman Moore : So has Vince. Hon KIM CHANCE : Sorry. Did I say “Nick”? Well, Nick was too. Hon Vince Catania, even more so than Nick, was particularly persistent in representing the interests of the banana growers. I know that they will want me to thank him for that intervention. (2) Yes. The events that can trigger a payment from the banana industry compensation fund are fairly narrow in their specification. I think this fund was initially established to deal with cyclonic events only. It is clear that a range of issues challenge tropical horticulture anywhere. It seems to me that this event has provided a prompt for the industry to get together with the Agricultural Produce Commission to look at the factors that can trigger a payment from the compensation fund and resolve these things so that we do not have this unfortunate delay - it is now the end of May; this event happened in March and the growers have been carrying those losses ever since - and we avoid this incident ever happening again. The Agricultural Produce Commission Act is due for review. We may also use this incident to bear in mind what amendments may be necessary to the APC act when it comes in for review, hopefully later this year.
Hon Norman Moore : I thought you handed it to him! Hon KIM CHANCE : No. I can assure the Leader of the Opposition that is not the case. Hon Norman Moore : I am sorry; I misunderstood. Hon KIM CHANCE : The answer is - (1) The question does provide me with the opportunity to recognise that in March this year a horrendous wind and heat event decimated banana crops in Carnarvon and caused hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage. There was a difficulty in accessing the compensation funds that would normally be available through the banana industry compensation fund, which is administered by the Agricultural Produce Commission, in that there was a perception that the claim related solely to the high-temperature event. I think the temperature went up over 47 degrees on that occasion. However, the information that had not been transmitted to the APC was that those winds were cyclone-associated winds. That was not made clear. At the very persistent urging of Hon Nick Catania, I spoke to the chairman of the Agricultural Produce Commission. We discussed possible resolutions that then came to light in discussions between the APC and the Department of Agriculture and Food that a wind event was associated with the high temperatures. I am happy to tell Hon Nick Catania now, because he may not know this, that late yesterday the Agricultural Produce Commission made a determination that $750 000 will be released from the banana industry compensation fund to assist those growers to deal with that issue. I recognise, without any irony at all, that Hon Nick Catania has been very persistent in this matter. Hon Norman Moore : So has Vince. Hon KIM CHANCE : Sorry. Did I say “Nick”? Well, Nick was too. Hon Vince Catania, even more so than Nick, was particularly persistent in representing the interests of the banana growers. I know that they will want me to thank him for that intervention. (2) Yes. The events that can trigger a payment from the banana industry compensation fund are fairly narrow in their specification. I think this fund was initially established to deal with cyclonic events only. It is clear that a range of issues challenge tropical horticulture anywhere. It seems to me that this event has provided a prompt for the industry to get together with the Agricultural Produce Commission to look at the factors that can trigger a payment from the compensation fund and resolve these things so that we do not have this unfortunate delay - it is now the end of May; this event happened in March and the growers have been carrying those losses ever since - and we avoid this incident ever happening again. The Agricultural Produce Commission Act is due for review. We may also use this incident to bear in mind what amendments may be necessary to the APC act when it comes in for review, hopefully later this year.
Hon KIM CHANCE : No. I can assure the Leader of the Opposition that is not the case. Hon Norman Moore : I am sorry; I misunderstood. Hon KIM CHANCE : The answer is - (1) The question does provide me with the opportunity to recognise that in March this year a horrendous wind and heat event decimated banana crops in Carnarvon and caused hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage. There was a difficulty in accessing the compensation funds that would normally be available through the banana industry compensation fund, which is administered by the Agricultural Produce Commission, in that there was a perception that the claim related solely to the high-temperature event. I think the temperature went up over 47 degrees on that occasion. However, the information that had not been transmitted to the APC was that those winds were cyclone-associated winds. That was not made clear. At the very persistent urging of Hon Nick Catania, I spoke to the chairman of the Agricultural Produce Commission. We discussed possible resolutions that then came to light in discussions between the APC and the Department of Agriculture and Food that a wind event was associated with the high temperatures. I am happy to tell Hon Nick Catania now, because he may not know this, that late yesterday the Agricultural Produce Commission made a determination that $750 000 will be released from the banana industry compensation fund to assist those growers to deal with that issue. I recognise, without any irony at all, that Hon Nick Catania has been very persistent in this matter. Hon Norman Moore : So has Vince. Hon KIM CHANCE : Sorry. Did I say “Nick”? Well, Nick was too. Hon Vince Catania, even more so than Nick, was particularly persistent in representing the interests of the banana growers. I know that they will want me to thank him for that intervention. (2) Yes. The events that can trigger a payment from the banana industry compensation fund are fairly narrow in their specification. I think this fund was initially established to deal with cyclonic events only. It is clear that a range of issues challenge tropical horticulture anywhere. It seems to me that this event has provided a prompt for the industry to get together with the Agricultural Produce Commission to look at the factors that can trigger a payment from the compensation fund and resolve these things so that we do not have this unfortunate delay - it is now the end of May; this event happened in March and the growers have been carrying those losses ever since - and we avoid this incident ever happening again. The Agricultural Produce Commission Act is due for review. We may also use this incident to bear in mind what amendments may be necessary to the APC act when it comes in for review, hopefully later this year.
Hon Norman Moore : I am sorry; I misunderstood. Hon KIM CHANCE : The answer is - (1) The question does provide me with the opportunity to recognise that in March this year a horrendous wind and heat event decimated banana crops in Carnarvon and caused hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage. There was a difficulty in accessing the compensation funds that would normally be available through the banana industry compensation fund, which is administered by the Agricultural Produce Commission, in that there was a perception that the claim related solely to the high-temperature event. I think the temperature went up over 47 degrees on that occasion. However, the information that had not been transmitted to the APC was that those winds were cyclone-associated winds. That was not made clear. At the very persistent urging of Hon Nick Catania, I spoke to the chairman of the Agricultural Produce Commission. We discussed possible resolutions that then came to light in discussions between the APC and the Department of Agriculture and Food that a wind event was associated with the high temperatures. I am happy to tell Hon Nick Catania now, because he may not know this, that late yesterday the Agricultural Produce Commission made a determination that $750 000 will be released from the banana industry compensation fund to assist those growers to deal with that issue. I recognise, without any irony at all, that Hon Nick Catania has been very persistent in this matter. Hon Norman Moore : So has Vince. Hon KIM CHANCE : Sorry. Did I say “Nick”? Well, Nick was too. Hon Vince Catania, even more so than Nick, was particularly persistent in representing the interests of the banana growers. I know that they will want me to thank him for that intervention. (2) Yes. The events that can trigger a payment from the banana industry compensation fund are fairly narrow in their specification. I think this fund was initially established to deal with cyclonic events only. It is clear that a range of issues challenge tropical horticulture anywhere. It seems to me that this event has provided a prompt for the industry to get together with the Agricultural Produce Commission to look at the factors that can trigger a payment from the compensation fund and resolve these things so that we do not have this unfortunate delay - it is now the end of May; this event happened in March and the growers have been carrying those losses ever since - and we avoid this incident ever happening again. The Agricultural Produce Commission Act is due for review. We may also use this incident to bear in mind what amendments may be necessary to the APC act when it comes in for review, hopefully later this year.
Hon KIM CHANCE : The answer is - (1) The question does provide me with the opportunity to recognise that in March this year a horrendous wind and heat event decimated banana crops in Carnarvon and caused hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage. There was a difficulty in accessing the compensation funds that would normally be available through the banana industry compensation fund, which is administered by the Agricultural Produce Commission, in that there was a perception that the claim related solely to the high-temperature event. I think the temperature went up over 47 degrees on that occasion. However, the information that had not been transmitted to the APC was that those winds were cyclone-associated winds. That was not made clear. At the very persistent urging of Hon Nick Catania, I spoke to the chairman of the Agricultural Produce Commission. We discussed possible resolutions that then came to light in discussions between the APC and the Department of Agriculture and Food that a wind event was associated with the high temperatures. I am happy to tell Hon Nick Catania now, because he may not know this, that late yesterday the Agricultural Produce Commission made a determination that $750 000 will be released from the banana industry compensation fund to assist those growers to deal with that issue. I recognise, without any irony at all, that Hon Nick Catania has been very persistent in this matter. Hon Norman Moore : So has Vince. Hon KIM CHANCE : Sorry. Did I say “Nick”? Well, Nick was too. Hon Vince Catania, even more so than Nick, was particularly persistent in representing the interests of the banana growers. I know that they will want me to thank him for that intervention. (2) Yes. The events that can trigger a payment from the banana industry compensation fund are fairly narrow in their specification. I think this fund was initially established to deal with cyclonic events only. It is clear that a range of issues challenge tropical horticulture anywhere. It seems to me that this event has provided a prompt for the industry to get together with the Agricultural Produce Commission to look at the factors that can trigger a payment from the compensation fund and resolve these things so that we do not have this unfortunate delay - it is now the end of May; this event happened in March and the growers have been carrying those losses ever since - and we avoid this incident ever happening again. The Agricultural Produce Commission Act is due for review. We may also use this incident to bear in mind what amendments may be necessary to the APC act when it comes in for review, hopefully later this year.
(1) The question does provide me with the opportunity to recognise that in March this year a horrendous wind and heat event decimated banana crops in Carnarvon and caused hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage. There was a difficulty in accessing the compensation funds that would normally be available through the banana industry compensation fund, which is administered by the Agricultural Produce Commission, in that there was a perception that the claim related solely to the high-temperature event. I think the temperature went up over 47 degrees on that occasion. However, the information that had not been transmitted to the APC was that those winds were cyclone-associated winds. That was not made clear. At the very persistent urging of Hon Nick Catania, I spoke to the chairman of the Agricultural Produce Commission. We discussed possible resolutions that then came to light in discussions between the APC and the Department of Agriculture and Food that a wind event was associated with the high temperatures. I am happy to tell Hon Nick Catania now, because he may not know this, that late yesterday the Agricultural Produce Commission made a determination that $750 000 will be released from the banana industry compensation fund to assist those growers to deal with that issue. I recognise, without any irony at all, that Hon Nick Catania has been very persistent in this matter. Hon Norman Moore : So has Vince. Hon KIM CHANCE : Sorry. Did I say “Nick”? Well, Nick was too. Hon Vince Catania, even more so than Nick, was particularly persistent in representing the interests of the banana growers. I know that they will want me to thank him for that intervention. (2) Yes. The events that can trigger a payment from the banana industry compensation fund are fairly narrow in their specification. I think this fund was initially established to deal with cyclonic events only. It is clear that a range of issues challenge tropical horticulture anywhere. It seems to me that this event has provided a prompt for the industry to get together with the Agricultural Produce Commission to look at the factors that can trigger a payment from the compensation fund and resolve these things so that we do not have this unfortunate delay - it is now the end of May; this event happened in March and the growers have been carrying those losses ever since - and we avoid this incident ever happening again. The Agricultural Produce Commission Act is due for review. We may also use this incident to bear in mind what amendments may be necessary to the APC act when it comes in for review, hopefully later this year.
Hon Norman Moore : So has Vince. Hon KIM CHANCE : Sorry. Did I say “Nick”? Well, Nick was too. Hon Vince Catania, even more so than Nick, was particularly persistent in representing the interests of the banana growers. I know that they will want me to thank him for that intervention. (2) Yes. The events that can trigger a payment from the banana industry compensation fund are fairly narrow in their specification. I think this fund was initially established to deal with cyclonic events only. It is clear that a range of issues challenge tropical horticulture anywhere. It seems to me that this event has provided a prompt for the industry to get together with the Agricultural Produce Commission to look at the factors that can trigger a payment from the compensation fund and resolve these things so that we do not have this unfortunate delay - it is now the end of May; this event happened in March and the growers have been carrying those losses ever since - and we avoid this incident ever happening again. The Agricultural Produce Commission Act is due for review. We may also use this incident to bear in mind what amendments may be necessary to the APC act when it comes in for review, hopefully later this year.
Hon KIM CHANCE : Sorry. Did I say “Nick”? Well, Nick was too. Hon Vince Catania, even more so than Nick, was particularly persistent in representing the interests of the banana growers. I know that they will want me to thank him for that intervention. (2) Yes. The events that can trigger a payment from the banana industry compensation fund are fairly narrow in their specification. I think this fund was initially established to deal with cyclonic events only. It is clear that a range of issues challenge tropical horticulture anywhere. It seems to me that this event has provided a prompt for the industry to get together with the Agricultural Produce Commission to look at the factors that can trigger a payment from the compensation fund and resolve these things so that we do not have this unfortunate delay - it is now the end of May; this event happened in March and the growers have been carrying those losses ever since - and we avoid this incident ever happening again. The Agricultural Produce Commission Act is due for review. We may also use this incident to bear in mind what amendments may be necessary to the APC act when it comes in for review, hopefully later this year.
(2) Yes. The events that can trigger a payment from the banana industry compensation fund are fairly narrow in their specification. I think this fund was initially established to deal with cyclonic events only. It is clear that a range of issues challenge tropical horticulture anywhere. It seems to me that this event has provided a prompt for the industry to get together with the Agricultural Produce Commission to look at the factors that can trigger a payment from the compensation fund and resolve these things so that we do not have this unfortunate delay - it is now the end of May; this event happened in March and the growers have been carrying those losses ever since - and we avoid this incident ever happening again. The Agricultural Produce Commission Act is due for review. We may also use this incident to bear in mind what amendments may be necessary to the APC act when it comes in for review, hopefully later this year.
(1) What measures are available to reduce the impact of extreme and uncommon weather events on the region’s horticultural industries? (2) Does the experience of the crop losses in March provide any lessons for the future operation of a scheme to reduce the impact of a range of adverse climatic conditions or weather events on the sustainability of horticultural activities in the region? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Vince Catania for handing me a copy of this question as I walked into the chamber at question time today. Hon Norman Moore : I thought you handed it to him! Hon KIM CHANCE : No. I can assure the Leader of the Opposition that is not the case. Hon Norman Moore : I am sorry; I misunderstood. Hon KIM CHANCE : The answer is - (1) The question does provide me with the opportunity to recognise that in March this year a horrendous wind and heat event decimated banana crops in Carnarvon and caused hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage. There was a difficulty in accessing the compensation funds that would normally be available through the banana industry compensation fund, which is administered by the Agricultural Produce Commission, in that there was a perception that the claim related solely to the high-temperature event. I think the temperature went up over 47 degrees on that occasion. However, the information that had not been transmitted to the APC was that those winds were cyclone-associated winds. That was not made clear. At the very persistent urging of Hon Nick Catania, I spoke to the chairman of the Agricultural Produce Commission. We discussed possible resolutions that then came to light in discussions between the APC and the Department of Agriculture and Food that a wind event was associated with the high temperatures. I am happy to tell Hon Nick Catania now, because he may not know this, that late yesterday the Agricultural Produce Commission made a determination that $750 000 will be released from the banana industry compensation fund to assist those growers to deal with that issue. I recognise, without any irony at all, that Hon Nick Catania has been very persistent in this matter. Hon Norman Moore : So has Vince. Hon KIM CHANCE : Sorry. Did I say “Nick”? Well, Nick was too. Hon Vince Catania, even more so than Nick, was particularly persistent in representing the interests of the banana growers. I know that they will want me to thank him for that intervention. (2) Yes. The events that can trigger a payment from the banana industry compensation fund are fairly narrow in their specification. I think this fund was initially established to deal with cyclonic events only. It is clear that a range of issues challenge tropical horticulture anywhere. It seems to me that this event has provided a prompt for the industry to get together with the Agricultural Produce Commission to look at the factors that can trigger a payment from the compensation fund and resolve these things so that we do not have this unfortunate delay - it is now the end of May; this event happened in March and the growers have been carrying those losses ever since - and we avoid this incident ever happening again. The Agricultural Produce Commission Act is due for review. We may also use this incident to bear in mind what amendments may be necessary to the APC act when it comes in for review, hopefully later this year.
(2) Does the experience of the crop losses in March provide any lessons for the future operation of a scheme to reduce the impact of a range of adverse climatic conditions or weather events on the sustainability of horticultural activities in the region? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Vince Catania for handing me a copy of this question as I walked into the chamber at question time today. Hon Norman Moore : I thought you handed it to him! Hon KIM CHANCE : No. I can assure the Leader of the Opposition that is not the case. Hon Norman Moore : I am sorry; I misunderstood. Hon KIM CHANCE : The answer is - (1) The question does provide me with the opportunity to recognise that in March this year a horrendous wind and heat event decimated banana crops in Carnarvon and caused hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage. There was a difficulty in accessing the compensation funds that would normally be available through the banana industry compensation fund, which is administered by the Agricultural Produce Commission, in that there was a perception that the claim related solely to the high-temperature event. I think the temperature went up over 47 degrees on that occasion. However, the information that had not been transmitted to the APC was that those winds were cyclone-associated winds. That was not made clear. At the very persistent urging of Hon Nick Catania, I spoke to the chairman of the Agricultural Produce Commission. We discussed possible resolutions that then came to light in discussions between the APC and the Department of Agriculture and Food that a wind event was associated with the high temperatures. I am happy to tell Hon Nick Catania now, because he may not know this, that late yesterday the Agricultural Produce Commission made a determination that $750 000 will be released from the banana industry compensation fund to assist those growers to deal with that issue. I recognise, without any irony at all, that Hon Nick Catania has been very persistent in this matter. Hon Norman Moore : So has Vince. Hon KIM CHANCE : Sorry. Did I say “Nick”? Well, Nick was too. Hon Vince Catania, even more so than Nick, was particularly persistent in representing the interests of the banana growers. I know that they will want me to thank him for that intervention. (2) Yes. The events that can trigger a payment from the banana industry compensation fund are fairly narrow in their specification. I think this fund was initially established to deal with cyclonic events only. It is clear that a range of issues challenge tropical horticulture anywhere. It seems to me that this event has provided a prompt for the industry to get together with the Agricultural Produce Commission to look at the factors that can trigger a payment from the compensation fund and resolve these things so that we do not have this unfortunate delay - it is now the end of May; this event happened in March and the growers have been carrying those losses ever since - and we avoid this incident ever happening again. The Agricultural Produce Commission Act is due for review. We may also use this incident to bear in mind what amendments may be necessary to the APC act when it comes in for review, hopefully later this year.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Vince Catania for handing me a copy of this question as I walked into the chamber at question time today. Hon Norman Moore : I thought you handed it to him! Hon KIM CHANCE : No. I can assure the Leader of the Opposition that is not the case. Hon Norman Moore : I am sorry; I misunderstood. Hon KIM CHANCE : The answer is - (1) The question does provide me with the opportunity to recognise that in March this year a horrendous wind and heat event decimated banana crops in Carnarvon and caused hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage. There was a difficulty in accessing the compensation funds that would normally be available through the banana industry compensation fund, which is administered by the Agricultural Produce Commission, in that there was a perception that the claim related solely to the high-temperature event. I think the temperature went up over 47 degrees on that occasion. However, the information that had not been transmitted to the APC was that those winds were cyclone-associated winds. That was not made clear. At the very persistent urging of Hon Nick Catania, I spoke to the chairman of the Agricultural Produce Commission. We discussed possible resolutions that then came to light in discussions between the APC and the Department of Agriculture and Food that a wind event was associated with the high temperatures. I am happy to tell Hon Nick Catania now, because he may not know this, that late yesterday the Agricultural Produce Commission made a determination that $750 000 will be released from the banana industry compensation fund to assist those growers to deal with that issue. I recognise, without any irony at all, that Hon Nick Catania has been very persistent in this matter. Hon Norman Moore : So has Vince. Hon KIM CHANCE : Sorry. Did I say “Nick”? Well, Nick was too. Hon Vince Catania, even more so than Nick, was particularly persistent in representing the interests of the banana growers. I know that they will want me to thank him for that intervention. (2) Yes. The events that can trigger a payment from the banana industry compensation fund are fairly narrow in their specification. I think this fund was initially established to deal with cyclonic events only. It is clear that a range of issues challenge tropical horticulture anywhere. It seems to me that this event has provided a prompt for the industry to get together with the Agricultural Produce Commission to look at the factors that can trigger a payment from the compensation fund and resolve these things so that we do not have this unfortunate delay - it is now the end of May; this event happened in March and the growers have been carrying those losses ever since - and we avoid this incident ever happening again. The Agricultural Produce Commission Act is due for review. We may also use this incident to bear in mind what amendments may be necessary to the APC act when it comes in for review, hopefully later this year.
I thank Hon Vince Catania for handing me a copy of this question as I walked into the chamber at question time today. Hon Norman Moore : I thought you handed it to him! Hon KIM CHANCE : No. I can assure the Leader of the Opposition that is not the case. Hon Norman Moore : I am sorry; I misunderstood. Hon KIM CHANCE : The answer is - (1) The question does provide me with the opportunity to recognise that in March this year a horrendous wind and heat event decimated banana crops in Carnarvon and caused hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage. There was a difficulty in accessing the compensation funds that would normally be available through the banana industry compensation fund, which is administered by the Agricultural Produce Commission, in that there was a perception that the claim related solely to the high-temperature event. I think the temperature went up over 47 degrees on that occasion. However, the information that had not been transmitted to the APC was that those winds were cyclone-associated winds. That was not made clear. At the very persistent urging of Hon Nick Catania, I spoke to the chairman of the Agricultural Produce Commission. We discussed possible resolutions that then came to light in discussions between the APC and the Department of Agriculture and Food that a wind event was associated with the high temperatures. I am happy to tell Hon Nick Catania now, because he may not know this, that late yesterday the Agricultural Produce Commission made a determination that $750 000 will be released from the banana industry compensation fund to assist those growers to deal with that issue. I recognise, without any irony at all, that Hon Nick Catania has been very persistent in this matter. Hon Norman Moore : So has Vince. Hon KIM CHANCE : Sorry. Did I say “Nick”? Well, Nick was too. Hon Vince Catania, even more so than Nick, was particularly persistent in representing the interests of the banana growers. I know that they will want me to thank him for that intervention. (2) Yes. The events that can trigger a payment from the banana industry compensation fund are fairly narrow in their specification. I think this fund was initially established to deal with cyclonic events only. It is clear that a range of issues challenge tropical horticulture anywhere. It seems to me that this event has provided a prompt for the industry to get together with the Agricultural Produce Commission to look at the factors that can trigger a payment from the compensation fund and resolve these things so that we do not have this unfortunate delay - it is now the end of May; this event happened in March and the growers have been carrying those losses ever since - and we avoid this incident ever happening again. The Agricultural Produce Commission Act is due for review. We may also use this incident to bear in mind what amendments may be necessary to the APC act when it comes in for review, hopefully later this year.
Hon Norman Moore : I thought you handed it to him! Hon KIM CHANCE : No. I can assure the Leader of the Opposition that is not the case. Hon Norman Moore : I am sorry; I misunderstood. Hon KIM CHANCE : The answer is - (1) The question does provide me with the opportunity to recognise that in March this year a horrendous wind and heat event decimated banana crops in Carnarvon and caused hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage. There was a difficulty in accessing the compensation funds that would normally be available through the banana industry compensation fund, which is administered by the Agricultural Produce Commission, in that there was a perception that the claim related solely to the high-temperature event. I think the temperature went up over 47 degrees on that occasion. However, the information that had not been transmitted to the APC was that those winds were cyclone-associated winds. That was not made clear. At the very persistent urging of Hon Nick Catania, I spoke to the chairman of the Agricultural Produce Commission. We discussed possible resolutions that then came to light in discussions between the APC and the Department of Agriculture and Food that a wind event was associated with the high temperatures. I am happy to tell Hon Nick Catania now, because he may not know this, that late yesterday the Agricultural Produce Commission made a determination that $750 000 will be released from the banana industry compensation fund to assist those growers to deal with that issue. I recognise, without any irony at all, that Hon Nick Catania has been very persistent in this matter. Hon Norman Moore : So has Vince. Hon KIM CHANCE : Sorry. Did I say “Nick”? Well, Nick was too. Hon Vince Catania, even more so than Nick, was particularly persistent in representing the interests of the banana growers. I know that they will want me to thank him for that intervention. (2) Yes. The events that can trigger a payment from the banana industry compensation fund are fairly narrow in their specification. I think this fund was initially established to deal with cyclonic events only. It is clear that a range of issues challenge tropical horticulture anywhere. It seems to me that this event has provided a prompt for the industry to get together with the Agricultural Produce Commission to look at the factors that can trigger a payment from the compensation fund and resolve these things so that we do not have this unfortunate delay - it is now the end of May; this event happened in March and the growers have been carrying those losses ever since - and we avoid this incident ever happening again. The Agricultural Produce Commission Act is due for review. We may also use this incident to bear in mind what amendments may be necessary to the APC act when it comes in for review, hopefully later this year.
Hon KIM CHANCE : No. I can assure the Leader of the Opposition that is not the case. Hon Norman Moore : I am sorry; I misunderstood. Hon KIM CHANCE : The answer is - (1) The question does provide me with the opportunity to recognise that in March this year a horrendous wind and heat event decimated banana crops in Carnarvon and caused hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage. There was a difficulty in accessing the compensation funds that would normally be available through the banana industry compensation fund, which is administered by the Agricultural Produce Commission, in that there was a perception that the claim related solely to the high-temperature event. I think the temperature went up over 47 degrees on that occasion. However, the information that had not been transmitted to the APC was that those winds were cyclone-associated winds. That was not made clear. At the very persistent urging of Hon Nick Catania, I spoke to the chairman of the Agricultural Produce Commission. We discussed possible resolutions that then came to light in discussions between the APC and the Department of Agriculture and Food that a wind event was associated with the high temperatures. I am happy to tell Hon Nick Catania now, because he may not know this, that late yesterday the Agricultural Produce Commission made a determination that $750 000 will be released from the banana industry compensation fund to assist those growers to deal with that issue. I recognise, without any irony at all, that Hon Nick Catania has been very persistent in this matter. Hon Norman Moore : So has Vince. Hon KIM CHANCE : Sorry. Did I say “Nick”? Well, Nick was too. Hon Vince Catania, even more so than Nick, was particularly persistent in representing the interests of the banana growers. I know that they will want me to thank him for that intervention. (2) Yes. The events that can trigger a payment from the banana industry compensation fund are fairly narrow in their specification. I think this fund was initially established to deal with cyclonic events only. It is clear that a range of issues challenge tropical horticulture anywhere. It seems to me that this event has provided a prompt for the industry to get together with the Agricultural Produce Commission to look at the factors that can trigger a payment from the compensation fund and resolve these things so that we do not have this unfortunate delay - it is now the end of May; this event happened in March and the growers have been carrying those losses ever since - and we avoid this incident ever happening again. The Agricultural Produce Commission Act is due for review. We may also use this incident to bear in mind what amendments may be necessary to the APC act when it comes in for review, hopefully later this year.
Hon Norman Moore : I am sorry; I misunderstood. Hon KIM CHANCE : The answer is - (1) The question does provide me with the opportunity to recognise that in March this year a horrendous wind and heat event decimated banana crops in Carnarvon and caused hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage. There was a difficulty in accessing the compensation funds that would normally be available through the banana industry compensation fund, which is administered by the Agricultural Produce Commission, in that there was a perception that the claim related solely to the high-temperature event. I think the temperature went up over 47 degrees on that occasion. However, the information that had not been transmitted to the APC was that those winds were cyclone-associated winds. That was not made clear. At the very persistent urging of Hon Nick Catania, I spoke to the chairman of the Agricultural Produce Commission. We discussed possible resolutions that then came to light in discussions between the APC and the Department of Agriculture and Food that a wind event was associated with the high temperatures. I am happy to tell Hon Nick Catania now, because he may not know this, that late yesterday the Agricultural Produce Commission made a determination that $750 000 will be released from the banana industry compensation fund to assist those growers to deal with that issue. I recognise, without any irony at all, that Hon Nick Catania has been very persistent in this matter. Hon Norman Moore : So has Vince. Hon KIM CHANCE : Sorry. Did I say “Nick”? Well, Nick was too. Hon Vince Catania, even more so than Nick, was particularly persistent in representing the interests of the banana growers. I know that they will want me to thank him for that intervention. (2) Yes. The events that can trigger a payment from the banana industry compensation fund are fairly narrow in their specification. I think this fund was initially established to deal with cyclonic events only. It is clear that a range of issues challenge tropical horticulture anywhere. It seems to me that this event has provided a prompt for the industry to get together with the Agricultural Produce Commission to look at the factors that can trigger a payment from the compensation fund and resolve these things so that we do not have this unfortunate delay - it is now the end of May; this event happened in March and the growers have been carrying those losses ever since - and we avoid this incident ever happening again. The Agricultural Produce Commission Act is due for review. We may also use this incident to bear in mind what amendments may be necessary to the APC act when it comes in for review, hopefully later this year.
Hon KIM CHANCE : The answer is - (1) The question does provide me with the opportunity to recognise that in March this year a horrendous wind and heat event decimated banana crops in Carnarvon and caused hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage. There was a difficulty in accessing the compensation funds that would normally be available through the banana industry compensation fund, which is administered by the Agricultural Produce Commission, in that there was a perception that the claim related solely to the high-temperature event. I think the temperature went up over 47 degrees on that occasion. However, the information that had not been transmitted to the APC was that those winds were cyclone-associated winds. That was not made clear. At the very persistent urging of Hon Nick Catania, I spoke to the chairman of the Agricultural Produce Commission. We discussed possible resolutions that then came to light in discussions between the APC and the Department of Agriculture and Food that a wind event was associated with the high temperatures. I am happy to tell Hon Nick Catania now, because he may not know this, that late yesterday the Agricultural Produce Commission made a determination that $750 000 will be released from the banana industry compensation fund to assist those growers to deal with that issue. I recognise, without any irony at all, that Hon Nick Catania has been very persistent in this matter. Hon Norman Moore : So has Vince. Hon KIM CHANCE : Sorry. Did I say “Nick”? Well, Nick was too. Hon Vince Catania, even more so than Nick, was particularly persistent in representing the interests of the banana growers. I know that they will want me to thank him for that intervention. (2) Yes. The events that can trigger a payment from the banana industry compensation fund are fairly narrow in their specification. I think this fund was initially established to deal with cyclonic events only. It is clear that a range of issues challenge tropical horticulture anywhere. It seems to me that this event has provided a prompt for the industry to get together with the Agricultural Produce Commission to look at the factors that can trigger a payment from the compensation fund and resolve these things so that we do not have this unfortunate delay - it is now the end of May; this event happened in March and the growers have been carrying those losses ever since - and we avoid this incident ever happening again. The Agricultural Produce Commission Act is due for review. We may also use this incident to bear in mind what amendments may be necessary to the APC act when it comes in for review, hopefully later this year.
(1) The question does provide me with the opportunity to recognise that in March this year a horrendous wind and heat event decimated banana crops in Carnarvon and caused hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage. There was a difficulty in accessing the compensation funds that would normally be available through the banana industry compensation fund, which is administered by the Agricultural Produce Commission, in that there was a perception that the claim related solely to the high-temperature event. I think the temperature went up over 47 degrees on that occasion. However, the information that had not been transmitted to the APC was that those winds were cyclone-associated winds. That was not made clear. At the very persistent urging of Hon Nick Catania, I spoke to the chairman of the Agricultural Produce Commission. We discussed possible resolutions that then came to light in discussions between the APC and the Department of Agriculture and Food that a wind event was associated with the high temperatures. I am happy to tell Hon Nick Catania now, because he may not know this, that late yesterday the Agricultural Produce Commission made a determination that $750 000 will be released from the banana industry compensation fund to assist those growers to deal with that issue. I recognise, without any irony at all, that Hon Nick Catania has been very persistent in this matter. Hon Norman Moore : So has Vince. Hon KIM CHANCE : Sorry. Did I say “Nick”? Well, Nick was too. Hon Vince Catania, even more so than Nick, was particularly persistent in representing the interests of the banana growers. I know that they will want me to thank him for that intervention. (2) Yes. The events that can trigger a payment from the banana industry compensation fund are fairly narrow in their specification. I think this fund was initially established to deal with cyclonic events only. It is clear that a range of issues challenge tropical horticulture anywhere. It seems to me that this event has provided a prompt for the industry to get together with the Agricultural Produce Commission to look at the factors that can trigger a payment from the compensation fund and resolve these things so that we do not have this unfortunate delay - it is now the end of May; this event happened in March and the growers have been carrying those losses ever since - and we avoid this incident ever happening again. The Agricultural Produce Commission Act is due for review. We may also use this incident to bear in mind what amendments may be necessary to the APC act when it comes in for review, hopefully later this year.
Hon Norman Moore : So has Vince. Hon KIM CHANCE : Sorry. Did I say “Nick”? Well, Nick was too. Hon Vince Catania, even more so than Nick, was particularly persistent in representing the interests of the banana growers. I know that they will want me to thank him for that intervention. (2) Yes. The events that can trigger a payment from the banana industry compensation fund are fairly narrow in their specification. I think this fund was initially established to deal with cyclonic events only. It is clear that a range of issues challenge tropical horticulture anywhere. It seems to me that this event has provided a prompt for the industry to get together with the Agricultural Produce Commission to look at the factors that can trigger a payment from the compensation fund and resolve these things so that we do not have this unfortunate delay - it is now the end of May; this event happened in March and the growers have been carrying those losses ever since - and we avoid this incident ever happening again. The Agricultural Produce Commission Act is due for review. We may also use this incident to bear in mind what amendments may be necessary to the APC act when it comes in for review, hopefully later this year.
Hon KIM CHANCE : Sorry. Did I say “Nick”? Well, Nick was too. Hon Vince Catania, even more so than Nick, was particularly persistent in representing the interests of the banana growers. I know that they will want me to thank him for that intervention. (2) Yes. The events that can trigger a payment from the banana industry compensation fund are fairly narrow in their specification. I think this fund was initially established to deal with cyclonic events only. It is clear that a range of issues challenge tropical horticulture anywhere. It seems to me that this event has provided a prompt for the industry to get together with the Agricultural Produce Commission to look at the factors that can trigger a payment from the compensation fund and resolve these things so that we do not have this unfortunate delay - it is now the end of May; this event happened in March and the growers have been carrying those losses ever since - and we avoid this incident ever happening again. The Agricultural Produce Commission Act is due for review. We may also use this incident to bear in mind what amendments may be necessary to the APC act when it comes in for review, hopefully later this year.
(2) Yes. The events that can trigger a payment from the banana industry compensation fund are fairly narrow in their specification. I think this fund was initially established to deal with cyclonic events only. It is clear that a range of issues challenge tropical horticulture anywhere. It seems to me that this event has provided a prompt for the industry to get together with the Agricultural Produce Commission to look at the factors that can trigger a payment from the compensation fund and resolve these things so that we do not have this unfortunate delay - it is now the end of May; this event happened in March and the growers have been carrying those losses ever since - and we avoid this incident ever happening again. The Agricultural Produce Commission Act is due for review. We may also use this incident to bear in mind what amendments may be necessary to the APC act when it comes in for review, hopefully later this year.
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