The jatropa species that you speak of is called Bellyache Bush...

The jatropa species that you speak of is called Bellyache Bush and is poisonous to stock and there is a fair bit about in certain cattle stations in the north and they have to fence it off. Also a member the same species is a similar oilseed, producing lots of oil for fuel. The large fuel companies have recently invested millions in setting up plantations of it. Problem is the harvest has to be done by hand and that is why most areas established, that I know of, are in Indonesia and India with cheap labour and in dry country with few other potential crops. Check out JAT (Jatoil Ltd) a company specifically set up to establish Jatropa plantations.