Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and Grower Group Alliance
513. Hon Julie Freeman to the Minister for Agriculture and Food:
I refer to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and Grower Group Alliance (GGA) collaboration.
(1) Can the minister detail the total cash investment by the WA Government in the DPIRD–GGA collaboration in:
(a) 2019–20;
(b) 2020–21;
(c) 2021–22;
(d) 2022–23;
(e) 2023–24; and
(f) 2024–25?
(2) Across each of the years listed in (1), how many in-kind FTE staff did DPIRD contribute to GGA?
(3) Across each of the years listed in (1), what other contributions did the WA Government through DPIRD make toward the GGA collaboration and at what cost?
The President: Honourable member, that question seeks a lot of information going back a number of years. Our standing orders require that questions are concise, and that includes of course the level and depth of data sought. The history behind that is that questions without notice have about a two-hour turnaround, by the time the question is lodged, to go to the minister's office and then the agency to gather the data and come back. The other option for you is questions on notice or estimates. So, on this occasion, I will not consider it out of order, but I would suggest looking at not only whether the question is concise in terms of the number of words, but also the level of information it is seeking, noting that two-hour turnaround.
If the minister is able to provide an answer, I will give the call to the Minister for Agriculture and Food.
Hon Jackie Jarvis replied:
Thank you, President, and thank you for that direction. In this scenario, we were fortunate that the funding has been consistent over the six-year term of the funding agreement, so I am able to answer the question.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development has supported the Grower Group Alliance with an annual cash payment of $375,000, which is a reimbursement of reasonable costs incurred for operating expenses up to an agreed amount and through in-kind assigned staff.
(2) DPIRD agreed to assign four in-kind staff to GGA each year. When in-kind was not able to be met, DPIRD made two cash payments to GGA of $75,000 in 2023 and $375,000 in 2025 in lieu.
(3) DPIRD has provided GGA with support services and resources, including office accommodation, furniture and equipment and associated utilities as well as a range of corporate services, including the information systems and support, audit services and professional development.
