Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Industry) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Now that the minister has confirmed that the government is shutting down the weeds CRC, can he explain to the Senate why it is doing that, particularly given the importance of the work that this CRC has undertaken? What alternative strategy does this government have for continuing research into this $4 billion annual problem for Australian farmers? Doesn’t the minister agree with the leading scientists and the CRC managers that only change in the government’s current policy for the funding of agricultural and environmental CRCs can ensure that collaborative research in these areas will continue? Rather than blaming the panel, is it not the case that it is government policy that directs the panel as to what CRC criteria will be applied?