Katrina Hodgkinson med rel: $1.3 billion budget for primary industries

Minister for Primary Industries Katrina Hodgkinson today announced the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government will invest $1.3 billion in the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) to ensure future research and development programs and delivery of rural and regional services.

The $1.3 billion budget will be invested into agriculture, biosecurity, fisheries, Local Land Services, the Rural Assistance Authority and NSW Food Authority, as well as into Crown Lands, the NSW Office of Water and natural resources.

“This investment ensures the Department of Primary Industries continues to be one of the largest providers of primary industries research and development in Australia,” Ms Hodgkinson said.

“Our world-leading scientists continue to work with industry partners to unlock new market opportunities, improve profitability and strengthen our State’s $12 billion primary industries sector.

“This budget sees $61 million allocated to Local Land Services – the greatest reform to regional service delivery in 70 years – to deliver extension and natural resource management services.”

Ms Hodgkinson said the budget includes an additional $13 million to support farmers and regional communities in the form of drought assistance measures.

“These measures will ensure the NSW Government continues to support our farming community to prepare for and cope with drought and will complement the new national drought program, which commences on 1 July 2014,” Ms Hodgkinson said.

“This is in addition to the more than $30 million the NSW Liberals and Nationals Government has allocated to temporary emergency drought assistance since November 2013, in response to the drought crisis which impacted more than half the State.”

Ms Hodgkinson said the NSW Government will continue to support research and development through the DPI, with more than 1000 projects worth about $100 million in value funded internally and externally.

“Research and development remains one of the NSW Government’s key priorities because it drives the growth and sustainability of our primary industries sector, which is crucial to our economy, as well as rural and regional NSW,” Ms Hodgkinson said.

Ms Hodgkinson said food safety, fisheries and biosecurity will also continue to be supported.

“Biosecurity will receive $4.8 million to assist our capacity to manage threats posed by pests, weeds and diseases and we are committing $11 million to support regulation and monitoring of food in NSW,” Ms Hodgkinson said.

“We are also driving growth in aquaculture by establishing a marine aquaculture research lease off Port Stephens and building on the NSW Oyster Industry Sustainable Aquaculture Strategy to support sustainable industry development.

“The NSW Government is enhancing recreational fishing opportunities by establishing new offshore artificial reefs and continuing the successful education and fish stocking programs, which saw more than five million fish released last year into inland waterways in NSW.”