Cotton manufacturing and forestry hub form part of CLP agriculture election promise

The CLP would grow the NT’s $700m a year agriculture industry by helping to deliver a commercial cotton manufacturing plant in Katherine, set up a new forestry hub in the NT and figure out how to crackdown on cattle duffers

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro and her team launch their Agriculture Policy for the 2020 election at the Berrimah Export Yards. Picture: Che Chorley

THE CLP would grow the NT’s $700m a year agriculture industry by helping to deliver a commercial cotton manufacturing plant in Katherine, set up a new forestry hub in the NT and figure out how to crackdown on cattle duffers.

Party leader Lia Finocchiaro, alongside Fannie Bay candidate and former NT Cattlemen’s Association boss Tracey Hayes, on Thursday revealed the CLP’s agriculture policy.

It includes supporting the development and delivery of Douglas Daly Stage 2, which takes in approximately 60,000ha of crop suitable or semi crop suitable land, using new water efficient technologies.

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Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro and her team launch their Agriculture Policy for the 2020 election at the Berrimah Export Yards. She is joined by the Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack and candidate for Fannie Bay Tracey Hayes. Picture: Che Chorley

The CLP would also spend a total of $600,000 to help NT Farmers develop a business case to develop Gunn Point for fruits like citrus and avocado ($250,000), fund research and development for a forestry hub ($100,000) and help the live cattle industry figure out how to expand or break into markets ($250,000).

The party would also work with NT Police, the Primary Industry Department and the NT Police Association to figure out how best to crackdown on cattle rustling and those involved.

“We know that dryland cotton has an enormous opportunity to be an important industry for the Territory, because of cotton as a product, but also because the by-product can be used as an all important cattle feed,” Ms Finocchiaro said.

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“With the new technology around cotton we know it’s 40 per cent more drought resistant and less water intensive which means it’s a responsible crop to grow here in the Northern Territory.”

About 2400 jobs are supported through agriculture in the NT.