Dairy Concessional Loans

Mr WILLIAMS (MacKillop) (14:37): A further supplementary to the first question asked to the minister: is the minister telling the house that he and his agency are unaware that land title and water title were separated in South Australia by the Water Resources Act 1997, almost 20 years ago, and are separate tradeable quantities?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL (Mawson—Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Tourism, Minister for Recreation and Sport, Minister for Racing) (14:37): What I am saying is we are asking the questions about how we can change our system. We will look at—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: Okay, but it hasn't been changed.

Mr Goldsworthy: Get with the times.

The SPEAKER: The member for Kavel is living dangerously.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: We want to make sure that we can get this money to the farmers, and these are the questions that we are asking other agencies here in the state government and also federally to ensure that we can get as much money—

Mr Williams: I was asking this question 12 months ago with regard to the drought loans; nothing has changed—12 months ago. How long does it take for you to get an answer out of your department?

The SPEAKER: The member for MacKillop is called to order.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: We take this seriously and we are looking at all the different options—

Mr Williams: You take it seriously? Twenty years!

The SPEAKER: The member for MacKillop is warned.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: We are looking at all the possibilities where, if things need to be changed, they need to be changed—

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: Had the balance of power for four years and did nothing.

The SPEAKER: The Treasurer is warned for the second and final time.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: —but can I say—

Mr Whetstone: Blackout Treasurer.

The SPEAKER: The member for Chaffey may depart for the remainder of question time under the sessional order.

The honourable member for Chaffey having withdrawn from the chamber:

The Hon. J.M. Rankine interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Wright is warned for glorying in the member for Chaffey's misfortune.

Mr Pederick: She can go and have a coffee with him, sir.

The SPEAKER: Yes, that's a good idea.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: Can I repeat the fact that we want as many people who need this help to apply. The other thing we need to look at is the fact that in this case many of the banks have stepped in and been able to offer loans at the same rate or a fraction lower, so people are going to their bankers where they can continue the relationship they have with their bank. We know that there are dairies out there who are doing that, which is a good thing, and I commend the banks for the compassion they are showing in this instance.

Once again, I want to urge all South Australians to look at the dairy produce they are buying and make sure they pick the right products that will support the South Australian dairy farmers. The simple message is: stay away from the home-brand milks in Coles and Woolies and get behind the SADA milk, the Fleurieu Milk, the B.-d. Farm milk. There are so many wonderful options out there, and we need to make sure that not only do we choose South Australia, as the campaign says at the moment, but we look after those dairy farmers out there who do such a good job.

They are up in the wee hours of the morning and out there again at night, milking their cows and providing fantastic dairy produce. As I said, we have the best quality milk anywhere in Australia in South Australia. Our dairy farmers need to be commended for the wonderful work they do there. We will continue to work with the South Australian Dairy Association, and we have regular contact with them about ways that we can make a difference.

As I said, we are asking at the federal government level and we are asking across our own government about, 'Can we change things around and do it a better way?' At the moment that is the way things are set up, but we are very, very happy to look at changing that if it is going to make it easier to get this money into farmers' pockets.