RURAL AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS AND TRANSPORT

Senator SIEWERT-I will start with the question that I asked earlier and that is: how many projects, as
opposed to programs-I am aware of the programs you run-do Land and Water have running at the moment, either on its own or in partnership with other research organisations or industry groups?

Dr Robinson-Currently on our books we about 120 research projects, and we have given in-principle commitment to another 26.

RURAL AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS AND TRANSPORT

Senator SIEWERT-I have some specific questions around Land and Water Australia. I will obviously have some questions for the agency itself, but Land and Water Australia is engaged in a lot of projects in a number of partnerships. In fact, it is one of the best organisations for developing partnerships.

Senator COLBECK-Absolutely.

Expansions to the controversial Gorgon Gas development on Barrow Island could have devastating impacts on the local ecosystem, warned the Australian Greens today.

"The original Gorgon proposal for a two-train LNG plant on Barrow Island has not even been started and now Chevron is talking about building three, four or five LNG trains," Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert said.

Punitive approaches to managing truancy in the Northern Territory will not solve the problem because they fail to address underlying causes, say the Australian Greens.

"It's time the NT government stop trying to shift the blame and got serious about addressing the problems in schools in the NT, especially in remote Aboriginal communities," said Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert.

Greens highlight emergency relief for struggling families as more mines close

Western Australia must create a more resilient economy that can ride out mining busts and the current round of job cuts, according to the Australian Greens.

“The need for emergency relief is becoming evermore apparent as each day more Western Australians find themselves out of work through mining closures and cutbacks,” Australian Greens Employment and Workplace Relations Spokeswoman Rachel Siewert said.

The Greens are responding to the global financial crisis with an eye on the longer term. We want to ensure that the massive resources we put into an immediate economic stimulus are not just a flash in the pan, that the money we are pumping out is in fact building and supporting the development of a truly sustainable and robust green economy, not just providing a short-term cash boost. We need to be thinking about and working towards a resilient, sustainable, more crash-proof economy to underwrite the future prosperity and wellbeing of all Australians.

The Australian Greens today expressed concern at the ability of Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) to protect public health and safety, following the Eating in the Dark report released by Greenpeace Australia.

Community Affairs Committee
Budget Estimates for 2008-09 (Supplementary hearings)

Senator SIEWERT-I have a number of areas I want to talk about, but I want to talk about genetic engineering, GMO and the report Greenpeace has just released, and labelling. The issues that Greenpeace raises in its report are around safety and safety assessment but also labelling. I understand Senator Colbeck wants to talk specifically about labelling as well-is that correct?

Senator COLBECK-Yes.