Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Polley for her supplementary question. The Gillard government is taking action now to position Australia's agriculture for the Asian century. Much of the work is underway. The national food plan will elevate food policy within government and across the supply chain. Rural R&D funding of $1.1 billion has been provided since we came to office, and we are reforming our world-class biosecurity system.

Today I can announce the Australian government will deploy a minister-counsellor (agriculture) to Jakarta in early 2013. This is in recognition of our focus on the Asian century and the increasing importance of our relationship with Indonesia. The minister-counsellor (agriculture) will be responsible for managing the department's food, agriculture, fisheries and forestry interests in Indonesia. The position will be in addition to the counsellor (agriculture) position already in Jakarta. It will focus on new and emerging issues including horticultural exports, meat exports— (Time expired)