Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Madigan, in regard to the passage of the legislation, which I trust you will be able to support, there will in fact be support provided through the Clean Technology Food and Foundries Investment Program, an assistance program of $200 million over six years which will provide support for investment and innovation. It will provide assistance which eligible companies will be able to rely upon. It will start with a grant arrangement of $100,000, which I trust will encourage many smaller food processors that currently are not able to attract support through any other program. This measure provides additional support for the food-processing industry. With this, along with the steps the government is taking in other fields, particularly in terms of research and development, we may actually see opportunities for additional employment in the food-processing sectors as a result of the legislation currently before the parliament.