Adjournment Debate

AUSTRALIAN YEAR OF THE FARMER

Mr VENNING (Schubert) (17:10): I rise to speak about 2012 being the Australian Year of the Farmer. I rise in this place in an attempt to clear the blinkered vision of government members and to get this Labor government to understand that farmers are real people with a real commitment to South Australia and a real role to play in our day-to-day living.

Next year will be the year of the Australian farmer—aimed at enhancing the ties between city and rural communities. At the recent launch, the Year of the Farmer chairman, Philip Bruem said the campaign hoped to communicate to all Australians the importance of farming to our economic and social fabric. According to Mr Bruem, and I quote:

The Australian Year of the Farmer recognises what farmers do for all Australians. It celebrates them for feeding the nation, for leading the world in farming techniques and innovation, and for sustaining the vital agribusinesses that underpin our economy. Farmers are the providers of our nation.

Sadly, Mr Bruem has his work cut out for him when it comes to our city-centric Labor government here in South Australia. I proudly stand in this place representing regional South Australians—people who contribute more than $36 billion to our economy every year.

The grain harvest is in full swing out there right now. The weather has been a bit tricky but yields are generally good and the quality is excellent. We should have grain in abundance and, because the farmers are doing well, so will the state economy—it goes together.

During the last Liberal government, regional South Australians were heard and given their rightful place in this house. We established a world-class water system in the Barossa Valley that is the envy of other regions. We believed in the support of our agronomic agencies, providing valuable assistance and advice for our regional communities. We built the new Waite Plant Research Centre up at the Waite.

But it has not been so with the current Labor government. Labor's idea of regional South Australia extends to the Parklands in Victoria Square and the banks of the Torrens. Its support for our regional communities and farmers is even more short-sighted and you would know that, Madam Speaker, coming from Whyalla, being the only government member outside the CBD. We commend you for that.

Our farmers have received nothing but disdain and complete disrespect from the government. Outgoing Thinker in Residence, Professor Goran Roos, recently described the wine industry and other industries, according to The Advertiser, and I quote: 'Australia's wine industry is a lazy sector that has lost its innovative edge.'

I am very disappointed that the professor chose to describe one of our great industries as 'lazy', but when you look at what Labor has done to our farmers, it is easy to see how he came to that observation. I refer to the complete lack of support for our farmers by this government.

State agencies such as PIRSA and SARDI have had resources cut and slashed. The member for Hammond, our shadow minister, has reminded this house on many occasions about that. These are the same agencies that once encouraged scientific developments, boosting farm productivity and improved crop quality, and they had a fantastic record back in the mid 1990s.

I wonder what the Hon. Lynn Arnold thinks about what is happening to SARDI. It was his brainchild, and he set it up when he was the minister. Now that the former premier has finally changed batons, he might want to spend some of his time explaining to Professor Roos why he sanctioned the removal of the agricultural advisory board—a board that provided more than 120 years of valued and much sought-after assistance and advice to the farmers.

As it was being cut down, not one of those board members complained. They just took it as professionals. Never did they get involved with politics, and I pay them the highest tribute. Much needed funds for regional infrastructure, our roads and communications, in particular community health services, are being squandered by this government. We would never deny the right of city people to enjoy good health facilities, and even a decent seat at the footy or cricket, but we will forever question Labor's ability to manage our state's funds and resources.

As I said before in this place, I sat on the Public Works Committee for four years when this government came into power in 2002, and for four years, apart from some of the major projects left over from the previous Liberal government, there was almost no major infrastructure project brought forward for approval.

However, on this side of the house I am very proud to say that we welcome the celebration of our farming communities in 2012. I look forward to contributing at every opportunity to promote what our farmers do and how we all value their efforts. It will be a great opportunity to narrow the communication gap, to educate our city cousins on where and how their food is produced, and how our food is the most nutritious, freshest and cleanest in the world.

I hope that the 2012 Royal Adelaide Show will make a big feature of the Year of the Farmer. Issues like 'right to farm', new development plans and zonings all impact on farmers and their ability to remain efficient and therefore viable.

As the blinds are now being drawn on this parliament for 2011, it is time for some reflection. We are very relieved that in 2011 the River Murray returned to its former glory and flowed, and thanks to the bountiful rains the water levels are back to normal. However, the debate continues on how we share the resource and protect that vital environment, and that will be one that we will have again next year. And how will we justify the huge costs of the desal plant?

Also, I hope that in 2012, two years before the next state election, the government will announce and deliver some major road upgrades, especially the dualling of our three major highways, particularly Highway 1—Port Wakefield to Port Augusta–to assist the gigantic development at Olympic Dam, Roxby Downs, because the traffic is already increasing, and also the Sturt Highway and the Dukes Highway. Road safety is a big issue, and when we start seeing these triple road trains it is most important that we run them on roads that are safe for everyone to use.

Tourism will be a big issue in 2012. Only last week we heard that the forecasts revealed that half a million Chinese people will visit South Australia, and the Barossa in particular, by 2020, and we will also see 23 cruise ships coming to South Australia in 2012. We saw a major report on tourism access released last week being quite critical of poor access for tourism. So, here we go!

Surely we will at least see the government encourage the reintroduction of the wine train. John Geber of Chateau Tanunda fame still owns it and waits patiently. At this point I also congratulate him and the Chateau Tanunda team for winning a fantastic award, the best shiraz, with their beautiful 2008 Grand Barossa shiraz. It has won world acclaim, and I will have to try some over the break. If any member wants to be around I am sure I would like to share some with them.

I hope the government, in its new year's resolutions, will promise to at least start—and I am pleased minister Hill is here, because he knows what I am going to say—the Barossa hospital. No? There is no response, Madam Speaker.

Finally, I hope next year we will create history and change the standing orders in this place. As a member of the Standing Orders Committee I am confident that there is enough good will around to achieve some meaningful change; and, of course, that comes under your control, Madam Speaker. I am confident that, with the Clerk, we can come up with some reasonable changes. We have been trying to do this for years and years. Plenty of Speakers before you have tried this, Madam Speaker, and have never achieved it, so you can go down in history—and we are there to help you.

So we look to the year ahead with interest. We do worry about the global economy, but it will be interesting to see the developments at Olympic Dam and the benefits to the people of South Australia.

The SPEAKER: I hope that wasn't 'go down screaming' in history!