McKelvie Ian: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to MembersText is subject to correctionMcKelvie Ian: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members[Sitting date: 23 October 2013. Volume:694;Page:14186. Text is subject to correction.]8.IAN McKELVIE (National—Rangitīkei) to theMinister for Primary Industries: What progress can he report on boosting innovation in the primary sector through the Primary Growth Partnership?Hon NATHAN GUY (Minister for Primary Industries): The Primary Growth Partnership has now committed $684 million of industry and Government funds to 16 projects. Although these projects are long-term investments they are already delivering some very exciting outcomes. The Precision Seafood Harvesting project is developing a new world-leading net technology. This high-tech equipment has the aim of allowing fish to be sorted by size and species before even leaving the water. This has the potential to revolutionise commercial fishing. Also the New Zealand Sheep Industry Transformation Project has already realised real gains. Its Silere meat premium brand was introduced in 2012 and $45 million of branded products are in place. Also Silere was a winner amongst supporters of the America’s Cup just recently where more than 1.4 tonnes of merino lamb was dished up during the 12 weeks.Ian McKelvie: What other results are already being realised in the Primary Growth Partnership programmes?Hon NATHAN GUY: A very good question. Transforming the Dairy Value Chain a Primary Growth Partnership programme has already delivered some amazing results. Last week Fonterra announced a new $72 million investment into its Clandeboye mozzarella plant near Timaru. This is driven by a new patented technology for developing mozzarella cheese which was supported by Primary Growth Partnership funding. This programme has also developed an online tool that gives predictions of pasture growth out 15 days and right out to 2 months which I am sure will be an advantage to farmers. It has also identified 11 new genetic markers that are under development. Analysis shows that discovery of these new genetic markers for important dairy animal traits could result in an estimated 10 percent per year gain worth $30 million.Ian McKelvie: Why is the Government investing in innovation in the primary sector?Hon NATHAN GUY: In case members of the House have forgotten the primary sector is the engine room of the New Zealand economy making up 72 percent of our merchandise exports. This Government is committed to improving the economic and environmental performance of this sector. One way that we can do this is by boosting innovation in the sector which will ultimately mean a stronger primary sector and of course a stronger New Zealand economy.Hon Damien O’Connor: Given the fact that his ministry has failed to produce mandatory quarterly reports on the Primary Growth Partnership has not released the Ernst and Young or its own internal audits has yet to produce key performance indicators for the programmes has systematically refused Official Information Act requests for this information and has scrambled to provide information on its website in the face of scrutiny is he really surprised that the Auditor-General is now investigating the whole programme?Hon NATHAN GUY: No. There is a wide range of auditing and monitoring going on with these Primary Growth Partnership projects. If the member cared to look at the Ministry for Primary Industries website he would see that the quarterly reports are becoming available on there. The audit reports are available; three of those have been done already one of those externally by Ernst and Young and another external one. The member should stand up and celebrate the Primary Growth Partnership instead of booting it and not backing the primary sector. The member does not back Primary Growth Partnership he does not back irrigation he does not back the Trans-Pacific Partnership and he does not back rural broadband. He does not care about primary industries.