Mr SETTER - 1994-10-11
Last night, I attended the opening of International Business Week in the Northern Territory and the launch of the revised Export Marketing Assistance Scheme at Territory Perspective. More than 50 exporters were present, and I was very pleased to hear the changes proposed to the Export Marketing Assistance Scheme. Will the minister outline those new government initiatives and explain how they will benefit Northern Territory exporters?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I thank the member for his Question and note that he, together with the members for Greatorex and Victoria River, accepted the invitation to attend the official opening of International Business Week last night. I place on record my appreciation to Alex Simmons, the manager of Austrade in the Northern Territory, for his superb organisation of the week, which opened last night, and the program that has been put together. Between 3.30 pm and 5 pm this afternoon, a Northern Territory service industries export seminar will be held at the Trade Development Zone, hosted by the Department of Industries and Development. In Alice Springs this evening an international business seminar is to be hosted by the NTCCO. On Thursday, between 8 am and noon, the Northern Territory construction industry forum will be hosted by Austrade. On Friday, 14 October, the Kununurra international business export seminar will be hosted by Austrade and the Kununurra Development Corporation. I reiterate my congratulations to Austrade and to the officers of the Department of Industries and Development for putting together such an excellent program.
Originally, the EMAS was launched by my predecessor as minister, Hon Steve Hatton. The Export Marketing Assistance Scheme was an initiative of my colleague and the Exporters Council and the scheme have been refined progressively over time. The scheme is designed to assist small Territory exporters who are endeavouring to make their way in the region. It was reviewed extensively following representations from the NT Exporters Council and after surveys of exporters who had taken advantage of the scheme in the past. The changes that were announced last night are quite extensive, and have been well-received by exporters who have an interest. Changes to the program will see the Department of Industries and Development providing approximately $100 000 in overseas marketing assistance to Northern Territory businesses in the next year.
The scheme was revised following a survey of clients and the following recommended changes have been made. There is no longer any requirement for Northern Territory or Australian content in products to be exported save that they must be exported from the Northern Territory. That takes into account the operations of a number of Territorians who have become true traders in every sense of the word. An example is a particular trader in Darwin who has secured a supply of coffee out of Timor that he is selling to Turkey. Of course, that coffee will never see its way necessarily into Australia, although the transaction is being orchestrated out of the Northern Territory. A number of other traders are undertaking similar exercises involving live crayfish and the export of prawns.
We intend to make aid-funded projects eligible, as these may lead to export sales in the longer term, and that is consistent with federal government policy. We intend to make
Page 210
off-shore investment activities eligible if it can be demonstrated that they will lead to export sales. Included now is ground travel and accommodation costs of $50 per day to a maximum limit of 10 days and $500. One of the most important changes is that assistance under the EMAS was previously by way of an interest-free loan convertible to a grant whilst funds will now be approved to clients simply in the form of a grant. These changes have been well received by industry, particularly the Exporters Council, and I was pleased to be associated with the launch of International Business Week last night and the announcement of these changes.
Page 211
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I thank the member for his Question and note that he, together with the members for Greatorex and Victoria River, accepted the invitation to attend the official opening of International Business Week last night. I place on record my appreciation to Alex Simmons, the manager of Austrade in the Northern Territory, for his superb organisation of the week, which opened last night, and the program that has been put together. Between 3.30 pm and 5 pm this afternoon, a Northern Territory service industries export seminar will be held at the Trade Development Zone, hosted by the Department of Industries and Development. In Alice Springs this evening an international business seminar is to be hosted by the NTCCO. On Thursday, between 8 am and noon, the Northern Territory construction industry forum will be hosted by Austrade. On Friday, 14 October, the Kununurra international business export seminar will be hosted by Austrade and the Kununurra Development Corporation. I reiterate my congratulations to Austrade and to the officers of the Department of Industries and Development for putting together such an excellent program.
Originally, the EMAS was launched by my predecessor as minister, Hon Steve Hatton. The Export Marketing Assistance Scheme was an initiative of my colleague and the Exporters Council and the scheme have been refined progressively over time. The scheme is designed to assist small Territory exporters who are endeavouring to make their way in the region. It was reviewed extensively following representations from the NT Exporters Council and after surveys of exporters who had taken advantage of the scheme in the past. The changes that were announced last night are quite extensive, and have been well-received by exporters who have an interest. Changes to the program will see the Department of Industries and Development providing approximately $100 000 in overseas marketing assistance to Northern Territory businesses in the next year.
The scheme was revised following a survey of clients and the following recommended changes have been made. There is no longer any requirement for Northern Territory or Australian content in products to be exported save that they must be exported from the Northern Territory. That takes into account the operations of a number of Territorians who have become true traders in every sense of the word. An example is a particular trader in Darwin who has secured a supply of coffee out of Timor that he is selling to Turkey. Of course, that coffee will never see its way necessarily into Australia, although the transaction is being orchestrated out of the Northern Territory. A number of other traders are undertaking similar exercises involving live crayfish and the export of prawns.
We intend to make aid-funded projects eligible, as these may lead to export sales in the longer term, and that is consistent with federal government policy. We intend to make
Page 210
off-shore investment activities eligible if it can be demonstrated that they will lead to export sales. Included now is ground travel and accommodation costs of $50 per day to a maximum limit of 10 days and $500. One of the most important changes is that assistance under the EMAS was previously by way of an interest-free loan convertible to a grant whilst funds will now be approved to clients simply in the form of a grant. These changes have been well received by industry, particularly the Exporters Council, and I was pleased to be associated with the launch of International Business Week last night and the announcement of these changes.
Page 211
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016