INDUSTRIAL HEMP
950. Hon SOPHIA MOERMOND to the Minister for Regional Development:
I refer to the industrial hemp
grants scheme, administered by the Department of Primary Industries and
Regional Development.
(1) What time frames were the
grants open for applications?
(2) What was the total number of
projects funded?
(3) To what value were these
projects funded?
(4) Were all projects completed
within the required time frame or were extensions granted?
(5) What was the total private
investment value in these projects?
(6) Does the
government have any intention to continue the industrial hemp grants scheme or
any grant scheme specifically related to only industrial hemp research and
development or processing?
Hon
ALANNAH MacTIERNAN replied:
I thank the member for the
question.
(1) The applications were open from
2 November 2018 to 30 November 2018.
(2) There were
five. One additional business was provided in-kind contribution facilities in
the form of accommodation at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional
Development's South Perth office.
(3) The total value of the grants
was $332 627.
(4) No; some extensions were
granted. All grants have since been completed and acquitted.
(5) The matched
private contribution was $1 978 319 cash plus $306 834 in-kind contribution
from collaborators.
(6) We are
continuing to support industrial hemp trials and research. I think the member
asked a question just last week and I outlined the funding that is continuing.
I have just explained that this was a very special round that we held
specifically for that industry, because we have just changed the legislation to
give it more room, so we wanted to give it a bit of a kickstart. We do not have
a specialised hemp grant proposed, but it is important to note that ongoing
projects are receiving grants from various grant schemes, such as regional
economic development grants, agriculture value-add investment grants, Collie
Futures and Agrifood and Beverage Vouchers, so there is plenty of support
available for the industry.