Tony Pasin (Barker, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

We should not admonish the member for Wakefield too much; he adds some colour to this place, if not intellectual rigor! It is a privilege to follow the member for Riverina. He is a staunch and strong advocate for rural Australia. It was a double pleasure to have him highlight to the member for Wakefield the important achievements of our coalition government over the course of this term. That is something which I think the member for Wakefield knows, deep down in his heart.

I rise today to speak on the Primary Industries Levies and Charges Collection Amendment Bill 2016. It is a bill of significance for many primary producers across my electorate of Barker. Barker, the agricultural hub of South Australia—that is something the member for Wakefield may take issue with, but it is a title we own—is home to some of the best primary producers in the nation. From the Riverland to the Lower Lakes and right across the region, agriculture is the most significant industry sector in my electorate. Indeed, agriculture employs more of my constituents than any other sector. From small owned family farms to large corporate enterprises running farms across the electorate, Barker is home to the full range of primary producers from beef to cheese and all manner of horticulture.

Whilst my electorate is perfectly suited for the production of agricultural produce, farmers across my electorate are constantly striving to capture the opportunities that new developments in research and development may have for their industry. Across the spectrum of primary production, the government collects levies which are directed towards R&D. Importantly, it is estimated that, for every dollar that the government has invested in rural research and development, farmers over 10 years have generated $12 in return. That is worth repeating. For every dollar this Commonwealth invests in rural research and development, farmers generate a $12 return.

This government remain committed to facilitating innovation across the agricultural sector. I think it is fair to say that farmers were the regional innovators. Having announced our comprehensive national innovation statement in December of last year, the government have laid the foundation for the transition from the mining investment boom to the new economy. It is, if you like, the mining boom to the dining boom. I echo the optimism of the Deputy Prime Minister when it comes to the healthy state of prices for primary produce across the nation, whether it is beef, sheep meat or other products which are grown and distributed to the world by my electorate.

1t is against such an agenda of economic transition and innovation that this bill clears the constraints which currently block the dialogue between rural researchers and the primary producers who fund them. This bill will seek to clarify the current situation through enacting such measures as would facilitate a healthy and productive dialogue between these important partners.

The bill amends the Primary Industries Levies and Charges Collection Act 1991 to allow for the distribution of levy payer information by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources to rural RDCs for the development of levy payer registers. Doing so enables the levy payers, the bodies that represent them and the research entities to collaborate on issues relevant to their respective industries. The information that may be distributed is the name, address, contact details and ABN of any entity that has paid, or is liable to pay, a levy or charge. The information may also include details of the amount of levy or charge that that person or entity has paid, or is liable to pay, on a leviable commodity. This will provide clarity when it comes to the size and scope of each levy payer's contribution to the research process, which in turn will enable representative bodies and research entities to better understand the state of their respective industries.

The bill allows the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources to permit levy payer information to be provided to the Australian Bureau of Statistics and used for the performance of its very important functions. This is consistent with the government's public data policy statement, which commits to securely sharing data between Australian government entities to improve efficiencies and inform policy development and decision making.

The bill also allows the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources to approve the disclosure of information given to an RDC, under limited circumstances, to another party such as to a ballot provider for a levy vote or to an industry representative body to consult on a levy proposal. However, the information must be used for an activity related to research and development or marketing, or for biosecurity or National Residue Survey purposes. Essentially, the bill delivers greater situational awareness when it comes to the primary production sector. This will enable government to better formulate policy decisions in a targeted and informed manner. The bill, in and of itself, does not create levy payer registers. The distribution of levy payer information to an RDC for a levy payer register will only occur where an RDC, in consultation with industry, requests that it does occur, and that request is to be approved by the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources.

This bill is consistent with the government's reasonable and responsible approach to agricultural policy creation in the nation. It is only the coalition that understands the plight of rural and regional Australians and understands the importance of rational and sensible policy when it comes to agriculture. Today the coalition is delivering a better outcome for primary producers across the nation, and in my case particularly those in Barker. The provisions in this bill will provide greater clarity for our primary producers, their representative bodies and their related research entities. It has been widely acclaimed by representative bodies, such as the Cattle Council of Australia, whose CEO, Jed Matz, said:

This will have multiple benefits such as improved disease management and prevention, improved extension services, more targeted communication and policy.

The sheepmeat industry welcomes this legislation too, with the President of the Sheepmeat Council of Australia, Jeff Murray, saying:

The introduction of this legislation is an important step in empowering industry representative organisations.

He also said:

Once passed, these amendments will enable peak bodies such as SCA—

the Sheapmeat Council of Australia—

to identify the industry issues and priorities of the levy payers we represent through better engagement with them and therefore empower us to oversight levy expenditure more effectively.

These are ringing endorsements and are but a few of the multitude of organisations who have lent their support to this legislation today. Those opposite could not say the same of the endorsements they received from the primary production sector. Primary producers in this country have long memories; long memories indeed. They have not forgotten the live export fiasco that was initiated by the Labor government to halt the exports of our hardworking producers. The primary producers of Barker, in particular, have not forgotten that decision, a decision I should remind the House that was supported in the other place by Senator Xenophon.

We probably should have an award given daily for the hypocrisy of the day. My nomination today is the member for Bendigo. It would be unparliamentary for me to refer to her as the 'bleater from Bendigo,' so I shan't.

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