Cotton Australia’s Senior Policy Manager for Northern Australia Simone Cameron and Cotton Australia Board Member Bruce Connolly have hosted at visit to Tipperary by new Northern Territory Agriculture Minister Mark Monaghan.

The timing was excellent coming only weeks after the Katherine Gin was officially opened and following an overnight fall of 60mm of rain, just what the crops needed.

In the briefing, Simone, Bruce and David Connolly, Tipperary’s Station manager, raised many points of interest with the Minister including biosecurity, R & D, education and community awareness activities. Land management and stewardship program recognition were also raised.

The Minister was very positive about the strengthening of the broadacre cropping industry and believes that the cotton industry is needed to bolster the agricultural industry and NT economy.

The Minister is committed to doing everything he can to support all existing and future developments.

Overall, the visit by the Minister and his staff was seen as a very positive opportunity for NT cotton growers and an indication of the support the industry can expect from government.

Cotton Australia used the recent Gin opening in Katherine to meet with key stakeholders in the Northern Territory as environment groups maintain their public opposition to the industry despite the much-needed economic activity cotton will generate.

Stakeholder Engagement Manager Darrin Davies and Senior Policy Manager for Norther Australia Simone Cameron had meaningful and positive discussions with NT Farmers, Chamber of Commerce NT and Darwin Port, along with key media including ABC, NT News, Channel 9 and the NT Independent.

The engagement process included NT Government and Opposition representatives, all of whom expressed strong support for cotton in the NT.