SELECT COMMITTEE ON SUSTAINABLE FARMING PRACTICES

Dr CLOSE (Port Adelaide) (11:57): I bring up the report, together with the minutes of proceedings and evidence.

Report received.

Dr CLOSE: I move:

That the report be noted.

The report on the sustainable farming practices has been the result of an enormous amount of effort done by various members of this parliament, including the members for Goyder and Hammond, and particularly the member for Schubert whose motion initiated this report, and also the members for Ramsay and Colton. Previously the members for Light and Taylor were on the committee, and I thank them for their efforts. I thank the efforts of the staff who were involved and most particularly all of the people who participated in the various public forums that we held and submissions that we received both here in parliament and also written submissions.

The farming communities across South Australia are very strong and they are very good at articulating what they expect. When I first came into parliament not quite two years ago, I spoke in my maiden speech about the importance of acknowledging that sustainable land use and looking after the environment were two sides of the same coin; the experience of being on the sustainable farming practices committee has reinforced that for me. Landholders are often the best people to look after their land and truly good farmers are also truly good environmentalists.

This report is all about how we make sure that the farming sector, which is enormously significant for our community and our economy, is also one that is able to be sustained in the long term, and that requires good infrastructure, good consultation, good education and also good environmental practices. That is why I was so pleased and proud to be involved in this committee and ultimately to chair it. I seek leave to continue my remarks.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.