Cathy McGowan (Indi, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

Today, I would like to acknowledge the Alpine Valleys Dairy Pathways Project and thank them for their hospitality towards the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Agriculture and Industry during its inquiry into innovation last week.

This is an excellent project. The Alpine Valleys is one of the most profitable dairy areas in Australia. I was absolutely delighted to showcase to my colleagues in the House committee the work that they are doing—their work with the community, particularly with the local high school at Tallangatta, their work with local government and other agencies around land management, and their work on transition in and out of farming. I would like to put on record the work of Stuart and Sarah Crosthwaite, Patten Bridge, Patrick Glass, Karen Moroney, Scott and Belinda McKillop, Ken and Lyn Jones, Alex Paton, Mick O'Keefe, Lauren Elvin, Jo Turner, Kelly Behrens, Lachlan Campbell, and Brendan and Sarah Glass. I thank them for their work.

Agriculture is core business in my electorate of Indi. It is core business in Victoria. For all those who eat food, it is our core business. We saw last week that some of the innovation taking place there—in governance, in increasing productivity and in land management—is, in fact, leading right across Australia. I would like to say, 'Well done,' to the Alpine Valleys people for their work. Keep it up. I am very proud to be your representative in parliament. Thank you.

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