Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I would like to add to the comments made by the Chairman of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Agriculture, Resources, Fisheries and Forestry on its inquiry into the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation annual report 2011-12. I would like to thank the committee and the chair for the cooperative way in which this inquiry took place. It was pleasing to see that both sides of the House showed their commitment to the importance of research and development when it comes to agriculture. If we are to benefit from a globalised world and be able to feed that globalised world—the growing middle classes of Asia, Latin America and Africa—then research and development are going to be vital to Australia's future. It was very pleasing to be able to undertake this report in a bipartisan way and for us to all be able to commit to the importance of research and development.

As the report highlights, we have statutory authorities for cotton, fisheries, grains, grape and wine, rural industries and sugar. We also have industry corporations for eggs, livestock exports, meat processing, pork, wool, dairy, forestry and wood products, horticulture, and meat and livestock. We must ensure that this research and development money is well spent and is targeted to what industries need and are looking for in the coming years. I was very pleased to see the cooperation across the committee to making sure that research and development, as best it can be, is targeted so we can take advantage of the growing opportunities that will be there.

I thank the chair and fellow members of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Agriculture, Resources, Fisheries and Forestry for their cooperation in putting this report together.

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