ENVIRONMENT, WATER AND NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT

Ms THOMPSON (Reynell) (15:45): My question is to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation. Following the amalgamation of the Department for Water and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, can you advise of some of the key services which will be delivered to South Australians through the department—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Ms THOMPSON: Would you like me to repeat—

The SPEAKER: Yes, can you repeat the question?

Ms THOMPSON: Minister, following the amalgamation of the Department for Water with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, can you advise of some of the key services which will be delivered to South Australians through the new Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources?

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:46): DEWNR administers a wide range of programs supporting the environment, conservation, natural resource management and water, including the River Murray. These programs are of critical importance to maintaining and improving the sustainability of our terrestrial and marine environments and they also play a critical role in supporting the sustainability of our primary industries.

Just to mention a few key areas of activity, DEWNR has developed comprehensive fire management plans for public land which provide the strategic direction for fire management activities necessary to mitigate the risk that bushfire poses to life, property and the environment. The government, through DEWNR, maintains the botanic gardens (one of our iconic conservation, cultural and tourism locations) in addition to managing more than 300 parks and reserves covering 20 million hectares that conserve a range of natural and cultural sites and provide important areas for tourism and recreational activities. In addition, DEWNR facilitates the coordination of each regional NRM board as they work to meet the needs of the local communities in terms of managing natural resources, including the protection of marine and coastal environments.

I spoke just recently in this place about the opening of the new natural resource centres and the important roles they will play in our regional communities, and I thank those local members from the various regions who attended those openings. Of course, DEWNR plays a pivotal role in the planning, implementation and coordination of strategies to provide for the sustainable use of our water resources, including through prescription and licensing; and, very importantly, having worked to underpin the successful campaign to provide a more sustainable future for the health of the River Murray and the communities that depend on having a healthy river system in South Australia.

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. P. CAICA: You'll still be able to fish, Vickie.

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. P. CAICA: You are fishing for that leadership role, again, I know.

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The Hon. P. CAICA: One is sailing towards the finish line and the other—

Mr MARSHALL: I know they will be workshopping this all week, but can we get back to the substance of the question?

The SPEAKER: Thank you, yes. Back to the question, minister.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P. CAICA: One is sailing to the finishing line, Madam Speaker, and the other into the sunset. However, while some would view DEWNR as an environment agency, it clearly has a pivotal economic role as well, a role that is especially understood by regional South Australians who the opposition like to take as their own. Hence, I think it is important for the public to know about some of the implications of which I have advised in relation to proposals for the one in four staff cuts across the public sector as proposed by the Liberal Party. That was not denied by the member for MacKillop, I might add.

That would result in 100 fewer full-time equivalents in DEWNR's fire brigade, reducing our bushfire response capacity, with DEWNR staff being the largest brigade within the Country Fire Service. The one in four cut would reduce opening hours for the Adelaide, Mount Lofty and Wittunga botanic gardens, and a deterioration of the gardens that would have a significant impact—

The Hon. I.F. Evans interjecting:

The Hon. P. CAICA: Not at all. It would have the garden looking more like a park than it should.

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: Point of order, Madam Speaker: standing order 128.

The Hon. P.F. Conlon: What about your interjection?

The SPEAKER: Order! Minister, I would ask you to wind up your answer. You have only got a few seconds left, anyway.

The Hon. P. CAICA: Madam Speaker, I will wind up my answer. Again, this one in four staff cut that is being proposed by the opposition would have timelines in the service provision of the water licensing area blow out, with processing for well construction permits rising from five business days to 15 business days. And we would lose 100—

Ms Chapman: That's not winding up.

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Point of order. Madam Speaker, I think the minister has well and truly exceeded his four minutes.

The SPEAKER: No, he still has a few seconds.

Mr Marshall: It felt longer.

The SPEAKER: Minister.

The Hon. P. CAICA: What will be interesting is how long it takes for the deputy leader to become the leader; that's what is interesting.

The SPEAKER: Thank you.

Mr MARSHALL: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: Thank you. There is a point of order.

Mr MARSHALL: Can we get a point of order on this constant debate that is coming from the minister?

The SPEAKER: Yes. There is a series of interjections coming from the other side, but I would ask you now, minister, to wind up your answer. Have you finished?

The Hon. P. CAICA: Thank you, Madam Speaker. It is one thing—and I think that the Minister for Health made this point earlier—to took look for sensible efficiency improvements over time but it is quite another to make savage cuts to the Public Service apparently based on ideology.