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| Ian Gilfillan Australian Democrats Member of the Legislative Council |
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Legislative
Council |
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| Ian Gilfillan Australian Democrats Member of the Legislative Council |
Parliament Index |
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In reply to Hon. IAN GILFILLAN (24 May).
The Hon. K.T. GRIFFIN: The Deputy Premier, Minister for Primary Industries and Resources, and Minister for Regional Development, has provided the following information:
1. Why is the government so stingy to the cattle industry in comparison with its treatment of the private property developers of Holdfast Shores and private convention and wine industries?
The government has made available to the livestock industry a $1 million facility for a significant portion of the estimated development cost of the cattle saleyard facility at Dublin.
2. In relation to saleyards, has the government ever provided any funds to the T&R Murray Bridge works or Pace Trading Works at Port Pirie?
The government has not provided funds to T&R Pastoral or Pace Trading for saleyards.
3. Does the government accept that a viable cattle yard at Dublin is a prerequisite for the success of the livestock industry in this state; and, if not, why not?
The government supports livestock marketing facilities where they are appropriate and viable. There are a range of marketing options for livestock and in recent years there has been a move, by industry, away from saleyards. For instance, 45 per cent of lamb sales are now over the hooks compared to 10 per cent five years ago. What we would like to see is a commitment by industry to the future use of saleyards before either a private company or the government puts many into this facility.
4. Would the government prefer to see the cattle industry sale collapse and disappear interstate?
The government does not believe the `cattle industry sale will collapse and disappear interstate'. It is essential for the operation of saleyards to be viable. It is private individuals who are seeking funding for the facilities. If involvement from agents, buyers or the livestock producers is not forthcoming it appears they are the ones judging it to have a limited future. The government stands by its offer of a $1 million loan to assist with the development.
In reply to Hon. IAN GILFILLAN (5 July).
The Hon. K.T. GRIFFIN: The Deputy Premier, Minister for Primary Industries and Resources, and Minister for Regional Development, has provided the following information:
Given that the government received $4. 8 million in 1997 from the sale of the Gepps Cross real estate, and given that it received about $1 million a year in yard fees for decades, why is it now refusing to return any of that money to the industry to build new cattle yards at Dublin?
In the year prior to the sale of SAMCOR the government provided $15 million of tax payers' money to prop up the abattoir for SA's livestock producers and processors. $4.8 million from the sale was insufficient to repay this amount. With respect to yard fees of $1 million being received annually there were significant costs of cleaning, water, power, etc to be taken from this amount. The government provided significant funding to the total operations at Gepps Cross in response to industry requests for support of the yards and abattoir.
