Unacceptable Change to Rare Natural Fibres Research Funding

Dr Andrew James (ACGA President) writes of another concern of which all Cashmere,Mohair and Alpaca producers should be aware and that is....." The apparent agenda within the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation to strip research funding from smaller industries and redistribute it to larger ones".

Dr James says, "I understand that there is a move by Mr Peter O’Brien of the RIRDC to terminate research in commodities with less than a net farm gate value of $30 million. This is a short sighted approach as it effectively reinforces the status-quo of existing Agriculture at a time when new and innovative solutions are required to adjust to climate change. If for example this approach had been applied in 1970 to research funding, it is likely that we would now not have any Cotton or Canola cropping, let alone Soybean, Mungbean, Peanut, Lupin and in the animal area, possibly there would be no tropical breeds of cattle such as Brahman, Droughtmaster, Belmont Red etc."

At present all RIRDC research in the area of Rare Natural (Animal) fibres is financed partly by the goat fibre levy, a voluntary contribution from the Australian Alpaca Association (AAA) plus Commonwealth fundings. What Mr Peter O'Brien is proposing is that there would be no Commonwealth funds allocated to research for Rare Natural (Animal) fibres, nor any other of the small, new or emerging industries within the RIRDC portfolio. All Commonwealth funds administered by RIRDC for research purposes, would in the future be directed to large & established industries only.

If you find Mr Peter O'Brien's proposed funding restructure unacceptable I suggest that you write to the Minister responsible , as well as your local member & lodge a protest.

 

Tony Burke,

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry,

Suite M1 26

Parliament House

Canberra ACT 2600.

Email:Tony.Burke.MP@aph.gov.au