Kerry O'Brien (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

The incorporated speech read as follows—

The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) was founded in 1982. The Act under which it was created gave it a mandate to operate for twelve years, after which the need for its continued existence would be assessed and action taken accordingly.

• In its sixth year of operation, the Board of Management considered that it was time to make a critical appraisal of its progress and achievements so far.
• In order that such an appraisal should as independent and objective as possible, the Board decided that part of it should consist of an external review.

The final report of this review lauded the high standing that ACIAR had already achieved in the field of international agricultural research.

• With very few exceptions, this positive reaction was reflected in the views of all who had been associated with ACIAR, whether as participants in collaborative projects or as members of sister institutions.

The report made 24 recommendations on future policies and strategies, and since then, the Centre has undergone several reviews.

• In addition, reviews of the Australian aid program or its components, Simons review of the Australian aid program (1996-97), and most recently, the White Paper on the Australian government’s Overseas Aid Program have included ACIAR.
• The Director of ACIAR has also independently commissioned a number of reviews of particular aspects of ACIAR’s operations and programs.

ACIAR’s work today continues at a high level.

• The Centre encourages Australia’s agricultural scientists to use their skills for the benefit of developing countries and Australia.
• ACIAR funds research projects that are developed within a framework reflecting the priorities of Australia’s aid program and national research strengths, together with the agricultural research and development priorities of partner countries.
• ACIAR’s mandate directs activities to developing countries in five regions: Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia, North Asia, South Asia and Southern Africa. Research is also allocated across regions through funding to the international agricultural research centres.
• ACIAR’s functions are to:
• commission research into improving sustainable agricultural production in developing countries
• fund project related training
• communicate the results of funded research
• conduct and fund development activities related to research programs
• administer the Australian Government’s contribution to the International Agricultural Research Centres

Sustainable agricultural production is particularly important to Australia’s aid program.

However, Labor notes that Australia’s aid program has lost its focus. Labor believes that the priority of the aid program should be poverty reduction.

• According to François Bourguignon, Sr. Vice President, Chief Economist, The World Bank:
• “Growth in agriculture makes a disproportionately positive contribution to reducing poverty. More than half of the population in developing countries lives in rural areas, where poverty is most extreme.”
• Yet in this year, funding for Rural Development in Australia’s aid program has fallen from 2006-07 volumes.
• Funding to ACIAR has fallen by $3.3 million from $49.1 million in 2006-07 to $45.8 million for 2007-08.

Labor supports the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research Amendment Bill 2007 as the changes;

• are in response to the Review of the Corporate Governance of Statutory Authorities and Office Holders (Uhrig Report).
• improve the administration of the ACIAR and do not alter the research and outputs of the ACIAR, and
• are aimed at bringing the ACIAR into line with how other Government entities are administered.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.