SENATE

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Page 16 Senate Friday, 21 October 2016 are thrashing out at the executive level. I can assure you I meet biweekly, every second week, with the chiefs of both organisations to address all of these questions that you are raising. So, John, could you add to that? Mr Maher: The meatworks I think you are referring to is the one at Livingstone, which has recently been opened by AA company. Senator DODSON: No. It is in the Kimberley. Mr Maher: In the Kimberley? Senator DODSON: Yes. Mr Maher: It is a similar situation in that it has been a boon for producers in that part of the country because it means that older cattle now have a market that is much closer to home, rather than having to send them further south to Harvey Beef or some other abattoir down south. It also means that, when there are no boats coming out of Broome or Wyndham, it provides another market for those kinds of animals that would normally go to live exports. The opening of that abattoir in the Kimberley has been a boon. I was also going to talk about the other one, which is a boon for the Top End in total. Senator McCARTHY: How many abattoirs do you have? Mr Maher: We do not own that abattoir. It is a privately owned abattoir, as is the AACo. It is owned by a public listed company. The only abattoir that we are involved in is the one at Gunbalanya. Senator DODSON: Mr Fry, can I ask you about the land fund. How many loan applications have been made from Indigenous organisations or communities to get access to funds for the purchase of land? Mr Fry: I cannot definitively tell you exactly what loan amounts— Senator DODSON: Take it on notice. Mr Fry: I will take it on notice, and we will certainly come back to you on that. Senator DODSON: Thank you. Senator Scullion: It should be a little bit more expansive, but we will take it on notice with both IBA and ILC. The land fund does not actually provide loans for land. It buys land that failed the native title test and then provides it back, as you would be aware. I understand what you are saying, but that question would go to— Senator DODSON: How many applications have been made for the purchase of land by Aboriginal corporations or individuals? Senator Scullion: That question should extend to IBA as well because they do some applications. Senator DODSON: I was more interested in how the land fund itself was being impacted by that. Mr Fry: In terms of acquisition, there have been 252 acquisitions of land properties over the period. Senator Scullion: I know you have got a particular interest in this. We will try to prepare a an extensive brief about the purchases, maybe over the last five years, and a bit of a vignette around the rationale for those from both the land fund and any other application for funding around the IBA. Senator DODSON: That is most appreciated, Minister. Senator McCARTHY: Mr Maher, could I come back to you on Gunbalanya. Are you able to provide further details on just that community and how it is going in terms of the cattle? Mr Maher: The cattle or the property? There is a property there as well. Senator McCARTHY: Both. Mr Maher: Seasonally, it has had a pretty good year. I would have to come back to you with the financials, if that is what you are after. I do not have them with me at the moment, but I am happy to come back to you with the financials. Senator McCARTHY: You can certainly take that on notice, but what can you tell me in terms of the programs out there? Mr Maher: The abattoir has a reasonable throughput. I would not say it is best practice, but it is certainly something that we would look at with respect to investing to get there. It has its own community market. I think it is a big part of helping that community with respect to not only employment but also producing its own product. Senator McCARTHY: Does it have a market outside Gunbalanya though? Mr Maher: No, not properly yet. Senator McCARTHY: Is that the intent? FINANCE AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION LEGISLATION COMMITTEE
Friday, 21 October 2016 Senate Page 17 Mr Maher: The intent is to explore that with ALPA. Senator Scullion: We have a bit of an emerging arrangement with Gunbalanya. Quite a few people who are driving across Arnhem Land are calling in. It is probably one of the few places you can actually purchase unfinished Brahman anywhere. We bring all these British breeds in from down south, and that is what you see in most of our butcher shops. Brahman has a very distinct taste. I think it is my choice anyway. It is a beautiful product, but it is relatively unknown. I think a lot of people are now going to Gunbalanya because it is the only place you can buy an unfinished animal. When I talk about unfinished, I am talking about an animal that has not been fed grain and that sort of thing. So I think there is a lot of interest in a new product. Senator McCARTHY: Are you able to provide us with statistics on employment for local people there? Mr Maher: For Gunbalanya specifically? Senator McCARTHY: Yes, please. Mr Maher: I am sorry. We do not have that with us, but we will come back to you on that. Senator McCARTHY: If you could take that on notice, local employment and the total number of employment— Mr Maher: Yes, sure. Senator Scullion: Just so I can provide parts of the question on notice, in terms of Anangu, we have 17 Anangu employees, including 14 in a structured work program, 11 Anangu contractors regularly engaged around the rock, and two ad hoc contractors if something in particular happens and they are called in. Senator McCARTHY: Are they based at [inaudible]? Senator Scullion: I do not know where the ad hoc contractors are. These are local contractors. If I have made an incorrect assumption I will correct it. Senator McCARTHY: So a total of 17. Senator Scullion: No, 17 employees. There are an additional 11 regularly engaged contractors that are Anangu. They are not an employee; they are a contractor. They come in through the arrangement as an employee PAYE. It is a contractor engagement. There are two ad hoc contractors we would have from time to time. So 11 are regularly contracted to do work, two are ad hoc and 17 are Anangu employees. Senator McCARTHY: Full-time equivalent. Senator DODSON: They are all Indigenous. Senator Scullion: For clarity, in terms of full- or part-time, I will have to get that on notice. I do not think we should assume—the only information I have is that they are employees. Senator McCARTHY: Just for the record, to clarify I have it right, there are 17 Anangu. Senator Scullion: These are all Anangu. Senator McCARTHY: So there are 17 full-time equivalent or part-time but you will get back to me on that. There are 11 contractors— Senator Scullion: Yes, Anangu contractors. Senator McCARTHY: Anangu and two extras. Senator Scullion: There are two other contractors. They do bits and pieces but they are not considered a fulltime contractor. Senator McCARTHY: Please also take on notice, Minister, what their pay is. Senator Scullion: Certainly. We will take that on notice. As I indicated, there are 14 of those Anangu employees that are on a structured work program. As part of the question on notice, we will provide the details of that. Senator LINES: Mr Fry, I was interested to hear you say that at the board level ILC is examining what it does beyond live exports and those sorts of investments. What consultation will you have with different Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples? I am sure you are aware that in Western Australia there is strong criticism from south-west Noongars about ILC investments being predominantly in the north-west of Western Australia. And I understand there are concerns with Kooris and others across the country. If you are looking at how you go beyond pastoral leases, what is that dialogue with other interested parties, such as south-west Noongars or other Aboriginal groups? FINANCE AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION LEGISLATION COMMITTEE
Page 1 and 2: COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Proof Com
Page 3: SENATE FINANCE AND PUBLIC ADMINISTR
Page 6 and 7: Page 2 Senate Friday, 21 October 20

SENATE

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?