LOXTON RESEARCH CENTRE

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (15:21): My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries. How many jobs does the minister expect will be lost in country South Australia in the agricultural research and development sector as a result of the budget decision to relocate the Loxton Research Centre analytical crop management laboratory? Has a regional impact statement been completed?

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development) (15:22): I thank the honourable member for his question. He is right to identify that that decision has been made with respect to the soil testing that has been undertaken up there for an extended period of time. But the point I would make is that the Loxton Research Centre has a very positive future, and it is about what we are going to do there, not what we have supported for an extended period of time that has cost more money than should otherwise be the case.

We are doing three things. We are making sure that the service that is currently being provided up there can be provided to those people in a cost-effective manner. We are working with the community in respect of the level of services. We have a policy here in this state that we do not sack public servants.