Latest Update 13 May 2008
Media Release
Hot Issues
Hover over the locations on the map to see where Tony has visited.
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Darwin—28–29 March 2008
On his second visit to Darwin this year, Tony opened the annual conference of the NT Cattlemen's Association and later attended the association's dinner. The minister launched a book titled A field guide to plants of the Barkly Region and toured the Darwin Aquaculture Centre on Channel Island in Darwin Harbour. He also launched a Fisheries Research and Development Corporation research project. The minister met representatives of a number of NT fishing organisations and inspected Paspaley Pearls' premises in Darwin. He also visited Woolner Station to inspect a natural resource management project.Darwin—24–26 January 2008
Tony visited the Darwin Crocodile Farm and then moved to the headquarters of Northern Command, where he was briefed on the protection of Australia's northern waters. Representatives of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority and the Foreign Compliance Operation were also present at the meeting. The minister then toured the regional office of the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service and met Northern Territory Government officials. Cairns—28–29 February 2008
On 28-29 February, Tony visited the Cairns region. On 28 February, he travelled to the Mossman Central Mill, 75 kilometres north of Cairns, to discuss sugar industry issues. Tony viewed two projects underway at the mill which are developing technology to produce low glycemic index sugar and molasses extract products. These projects are funded by the Regional and Community Projects component of the Sugar Industry Reform Program.
Tony convened a special Primary Industries Ministerial Forum in Cairns on 29 February. At the Forum, Tony and his state and territory counterparts discussed and agreed on a path forward to make sure Australian agriculture is well prepared to respond to climate change. Four key areas were discussed: climate change adaptation and mitigation, drought policy, improving agricultural productivity and improving international market access.Innisfail—19–20 December 2007
Tony visited Innisfail in Far North Queensland where he met representatives of the Tully sugar mill, the Queensland Mechanical Cane Harvesters Association and the Mareeba Rural Action Group during site visits. The minister also toured a local banana growing and packing enterprise and viewed how they had recovered their business after the devastation of cyclone Larry in 2006.Emerald—24 January 2008
Tony visited the flood-affected area of Emerald to see first-hand the extent of the damage and talk to people in the community who assisted with the flood relief effort.Roma—7 December 2007
Tony and Prime Minister Rudd inspected a beef cattle stud and held a joint media conference on the issues and challenges facing rural and regional Australia, including climate change and the prospects for Australia's agricultural exports. The Prime Minister and minister then saw how the National Livestock Identification Scheme is used to track and record the performance of Romagnola stud cattle.New England region—12–14 December 2007
Tony visited the New England region of northern NSW, including the cities of Tamworth and Armidale, the towns of Inverell, Glen Innes, Guyra, Duri, Nemingha and Bendemeer. The minister visited a number of agricultural businesses including grain, cattle, sheep and poultry farms. The visit included meetings with local catchment management and landcare groups, as well as representatives of the NSW Farmers Association, Australian Pork Limited, the Red Meat Advisory Council and the Australian Egg Corporation. The region's main agricultural industries are grains, wool, beef, sheep meat, dairy and poultry.Broken Hill—9–10 January 2008
Tony visited Broken Hill to inspect natural resource management projects in the district, including Coogee Lake at Langawirra. The trip included a visit to the Australian Plague Locust Commission's regional office and meetings with representatives of the local catchment management authority and the Rural Lands Protection Board.Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area—1–3 January 2008
Tony's new year visit to the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area included the centres of Griffith and Hay. The minister inspected local rice farms, wetlands and landcare projects. He met the local catchment management authority and landcare groups, water provider Murrumbidgee Irrigation and the regional horticultural council. Irrigated horticulture and rice farms are the region's industrial backbone.Sunraysia Region, Mildura—4 January 2008
Tony's visit to this horticultural hub included tours of table grape, citrus, almond and avocado plantations and inspections of irrigation infrastructure. The minister met with representatives of Horticulture Australia Limited, the Australian Citrus Growers Association, the Australian Tablegrape Association and the Almond Board of Australia.Colac Region and Melbourne —5–6 March 2008
On 5-6 March, Tony visited the Colac region in south west Victoria, and Melbourne. At Colac, he met dairy farmers to discuss industry issues and saw the variety in the scale of dairy operations in the region. Tony visited a large dairy farm using innovative technology for large herd management and a smaller, diversified family dairy farm that produces onions as well as milk.
In Melbourne, Tony met with the Victorian Farmers Federation to discuss key issues affecting Victorian farmers. He also attended the Herald and Weekly Times Farm Business Awards presentation which celebrates the achievements of Australia's most successful and innovative farmers.Adelaide—7 January 2008
Tony’s visit to Adelaide focussed on high-level meetings with wine industry leaders, including the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia and Wine Grape Growers Association. The trip included inspections of a dairy and a local winery.Perth—19–23 January 2008
Tony took part in the Prime Minister's community cabinet meetings at Canning Vale where people had the opportunity to ask direct questions of members of Cabinet. Minister Burke met with Western Australia's Natural Resource Management Council and state government officials. From Perth the minister flew to visit outlying properties in the state's wheat and sheep belt. Later in his visit he met representatives of the livestock export industry. The minister also met with WA officers of the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service and toured export quarantine facilities south of Perth, where livestock for export are transferred to feedlots before loading for transportation to export destinations.Wongan Hills, Calingiri—22 January 2008
Tony visited several properties in the Wongan Hills wheat and sheep belt 150 kilometres north-east of Perth. He met representatives of the Western Australian Farmers Federation while touring the Wongan Hills district. The minister also visited a property in nearby Calingiri where he met representatives of the WA Pastoralists and Graziers Association for informal discussions.Hobart, Launceston, Plenty, Maydena, Tahune—18–19 December 2007
Tony toured Tasmania’s southern forestry operations, including the Styx and Huon valleys, as well as protected areas of forest. The trip included visits to a major timber mill, a fish processing factory, oyster farm and cherry farm, as well as meetings with Forestry Tasmania, the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association, Timber Communities Australia and seafood, beef, dairy and vegetable producers.