BANALASTA EUCALYPTUS OIL PLANTATION
NEW ENGLAND PHARMACEUTICALS
Page: 12217
The Hon. A. B. KELLY [5.51 p.m.]: I would like to inform honourable members of two developments that I visited recently during a trip to the New England region. The Banalasta eucalyptus oil plantation is situated on approximately 5,000 hectares on the New England Tablelands almost halfway between Tamworth and Armidale. Whilst the plantation was established more than 20 years ago, the company has recently turned its attention to the harvesting and distillation of premium grade eucalyptus oil. This oil is being marketed for a number of uses, from antiseptic and anti-viral purposes to use as a liniment and as a relief for coughs, colds and congestion. With more than one million eucalypts on the plantation, tea tree oil production is expected to reach 50 tonnes over the next five years. This represents an important economic development for the region, with the company hoping to expand its production and work force beyond the current 20 full-time workers as well as offering additional employment opportunities to contractors.
I visited the plantation to announce State Government assistance for this fledgling company under the Carr Government's Regional Business Development scheme. It was most pleasing to make an announcement that shows our Government's ongoing commitment to helping rural and regional businesses to expand and capitalise on the many opportunities and advantages that country New South Wales has to offer. The Carr Government's scheme assists about 100 regional companies every year—which is about two a week—and is a good example of the productive working partnerships that our Government is forming with rural and regional businesses. The financial assistance for the Banalasta oil plantation will help the company to market its high-quality product and to explore new export opportunities through the development of a strategic marketing plan. The scheme is not artificially propping up country businesses; it is strategic, targeted assistance that provides funds to enable businesses to build on their strengths, develop their potentials and expand. It was pleasing to visit the plantation, inspect its current facilities and hear of its future plans.
The following morning I visited another business in the region that has also benefited from this excellent program. The New England Pharmaceuticals company recently relocated its operations from West Ryde in Sydney to Armidale, merging its manufacturing activities with its New England research farm, which was established in 1991. The company develops pharmaceuticals, which are sold both domestically and overseas, to be used in the breeding of food-producing animals. I think about 60 per cent of its products are exported. With the help of the State Government, the company's relocation to Armidale will create up to seven new jobs in the first six months, with twice this number expected to be employed within three years.
The company is recognised as a leader in the industry, with skilled staff as well as experienced and innovative management. The relocation of professional and skilled jobs to rural and regional New South Wales is a priority for our Government, and it is pleasing that our programs of targeted assistance are continuing to deliver results. New England Pharmaceuticals has received financial assistance from the Regional Business Development scheme to help meet the cost of relocation and as a contribution to the costs involved with the new infrastructure and the commissioning of plant equipment associated with the production of these pharmaceuticals. It was most pleasing to visit these two exciting developments in the New England region and to announce State Government assistance for the businesses that will generate jobs and growth in the area. I wish both companies the best and note the active role that the Carr Government has played in bringing economic growth and jobs to the New England region.
In closing, I must pass on some comments that were made to me by officials at New England Pharmaceuticals. The company is heavily involved with Customs and with the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service as its business involves importing products. In recent years it has noticed that AQIS's scrutiny of imports into this country has become lax—although increased attention was paid to the possible importation of hormones into Australia during the Olympics. His call on the Federal Government to step up scrutiny of imports into this country is extremely pertinent in light of the recent mad cow disease and foot and mouth disease outbreaks in the United Kingdom and Europe. I congratulate the Irish Government on posting 1,000 army personnel and police at the border with Northern Ireland to ensure that the disease does not enter the country.