DROUGHT COORDINATORS

537 Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (15 September 2009). With reference to Budget paper 4, Volume 1, page 5. 11 of the 2008-09 Budget regarding the Agriculture, Food and Wine—

(a) how many Drought Coordinators are there, where are they stationed and what areas do they cover; and

(b) what is the cost of providing these coordinators in terms of wages and associated program on-costs?

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development): I am advised that:

(a) There are five Regional Coordinators appointed through the State Drought Response Measures Program.

The Coordinators are:

Brenton Parsons who supports the Eyre Peninsula region;

Liz Connell who supports the Northern Areas (Northern and Yorke region and the Rangelands);

Jim Cawthorne who supports the Riverland;

Bill Davies, recently appointed to support the Murray Mallee and Upper South East regions; and

The Hon Dean Brown is the Premier’s Special Adviser on Drought and coordinates support for the region below Lock 1 to the Lower Lakes.

(b) The salary costs associated with employing these coordinators is around $617,000 for salaries and on costs (including super, WorkCover, etc.) and the associated program operating costs of around $111,000 (including office accommodation, vehicle hire, travel and accommodation, etc.).