Natural Resources Committee: Annual Report 2014-15

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. S.W. Key:

That the 107^th report of the committee, entitled Annual Report 2014-15, be noted.

(Continued from 10 February 2016.)

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (11:35): I would like to make a brief contribution and speak about the 107^th report of the Natural Resources Committee and acknowledge the fine work that has been done by the hardworking committee. Some say that it is the hardest working committee, perhaps challenged by the Public Works Committee.

As part of the annual report 2014-15, under the act each natural resources management board had to prepare a regional plan in which the NRM levy proposals are included for the 2015-16 year. It has been quite a controversial decision by the government, directed to the minister, to find more money. Where it was the state's responsibility, shared by the state, the onus has now been put on a much smaller group of South Australian taxpayers.

Those taxpayers in general are supporting the economy through their business models, primary producers in most cases. It is an onerous task, that these people now have to dig deeper into their pockets to help this government's ailing budget. It is not about responsibility for water planning and management; it is simply a cost-shifting exercise. It is quite concerning that this has happened this year, and the onus is only going to get worse next year, when obviously they are going to have to find more money.

There are two NRM levies: division 1 is a land-based levy paid by landowners and households, and division 2 is a water levy paid by people holding water licences. The funds raised by these levies are used to pay for environmental and conservation projects for controlling pests, weeds, protecting waterways and areas of environmental importance. The joint Natural Resources Committee is required by law to examine any NRM board plans that contain a levy proposal, and they cannot force any changes in the proposed rates.

NRM boards across South Australia have been directed by the state government that levy increases are necessary to recover the $3.5 million in the 2015-16 year and $6.8 million in the 2016-17, and indexed for future years. This means raising that extra $2.26 million in the 2016-17 budget for the state's water planning and management costs. The state government has directed NRM boards to collect moneys under the National Water Initiative for partial cost recovery.

I note that the South-East area has been asked to contribute 33 per cent towards these increases, and the Murray-Darling Basin area and the Adelaide & Mount Lofty Ranges NRM are major contributors. The other NRM areas in the state are also contributing but to a much lesser degree. It is a concern. The government is looking a gift horse in the mouth. The government is always out spruiking the good news stories, and they often use primary producers to underpin this state's budget. This state, sadly, lacks many good news stories.

They are really biting the hand that is feeding them. I think it is sad that, even though it is a relatively small amount of money in the big picture, it is another hit on the primary producers, landowners and water licence holders in South Australia. Again, it is a hit to the people who obviously matter least to the government because this cost-shifting exercise has moved away from the broader South Australian population to a much smaller group of people who, as I said, are very important to the government—making the good news announcements and also underpinning the state's economy. Primary Producers SA and Livestock SA remain opposed to the rises and are calling for an independent review into water planning and management—

Time expired.

Mr PICTON (Kaurna) (11:40): I would like to add some brief comments in regard to the annual report of the Natural Resources Committee for 2014-15. I particularly note my pleasure at having been a member of the committee over the last two years. This report only relates to the 2014-15 year when I was a member, but I was also a member for a significant period during 2015-16. It is a very strong and hardworking committee. It has a very able presiding member in the member for Ashford who does a sterling job and it distinguishes itself in carrying out some very important roles.

We have spent a significant amount of time over the past year on the committee looking at the issue of unconventional gas developments and fracking, and there is a separate interim report before the house at the moment in regard to that. We have also spent a significant amount of time looking at fish stocks in South Australia, which is a very interesting issue. We have been very well assisted by the Minister for Fisheries and his staff in the department who have given us lots of advice, but we have also talked to a lot of people in the industry about that issue.

Of course we spent a lot of time reviewing the work of the NRM boards and their staff across South Australia. We have undertaken a number of interesting visits to see what is actually going on on the ground, including a trip to Kangaroo Island, which was very informative, as well as two trips to the South-East of South Australia. I understand that the committee already has a number of other trips planned for this year, including one to see the recovery efforts underway in the Mid North of South Australia as well as the AW NRM Board in that region, which will be a very worthwhile trip.

I would like to thank the committee for my time as a member and I would also like to thank the committee staff, Patrick and Barb, for their very hard work. If there is anybody from the parliamentary administration listening, this is certainly a committee that needs resources to carry out its work. There has always been significant pressure on the budget for this committee, given that it does so much compared with some of the other standing committees.

It has also faced some particular information technology difficulties in terms of being able to get a laptop for staff members to undertake notetaking when we are visiting places around regional South Australia and even a mobile phone. I hope those things can be addressed in coming years. I look forward to continuing to touch base with the committee and I look forward to its future reports on the important range of work it undertakes.

The Hon. S.W. KEY (Ashford) (11:43): I must say that I love being a member of this committee. I like being on this committee not just because of the committee members and staff, who are all excellent, but also because we get a lot of cooperation from members in this chamber in particular and also in the Legislative Council. I hope that where there are issues that affect particular electorates, as much as possible, we are able to hear what the local member has to say and they are able to raise concerns with us about those issues.

We had 23 meetings from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015. We had 77 witnesses appear before the committee. We produced seven reports that were tabled in this house, some of which are still on the Notice Paper. As has been mentioned by the member for Kaurna, we have had two major fact-finding visits: one to the Kangaroo Island NRM region and also one to the South-East with regard to the reference we have on fracking as part of our unconventional gas inquiry in the South-East.

I would also like to record the committee's sadness at losing the member for Kaurna from our committee, as when we lost the member for Stuart and also the member for Little Para. We sort of see them as still being part of our gang, so we hope that they will continue to work with us. In fact, I am sure that will happen. We welcome the member for Elder to the crew. We know that she, particularly with her skills on the excellent Public Works Committee, will be a great addition to the gang.

We have mentioned the staff: Patrick Dupont and Barbara Coddington. They do an excellent job. The issue of IT support really is a serious issue that we need to address, and that is something that I am interested in pursuing with perhaps the other committee chairs to see whether there is a way in which we can get that support for the staff from the parliamentary administration. I commend the report to the house, which is the Annual Report 2014-15 of the Natural Resources Committee.

Motion carried.