Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee) (14:54): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Why did the minister find the time to visit the Napa Valley before meeting with the mayors of Whyalla, Port Pirie and Port Augusta, and did he use the services of a limousine?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Members on my left will cease using props immediately.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: It's a bit rich when you are wearing a guernsey, sir.

The SPEAKER: It's not a prop. And, Member for West Torrens, per the past practice—

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: I'm not going to kick you out yet. Per the past practice of the house, you know what the practice has been in the week of the grand final, especially when Norwood are in the grand final. Thank you for immediately putting those props down. If I see them again, I will be ejecting members. The Minister for Primary Industries has the call. He will be heard in silence. Give him a fair hearing.

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE (Chaffey—Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development) (14:55): Actually, why is it that you are asking these important questions?

Members interjecting:

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: Mr Speaker, What I would say—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: This is a very important question, but I do feel sorry for the shadow minister not getting a guernsey to ask a question. What I would like to say is that, through my travels in the US, I visited the Napa Valley, and I looked at ways that South Australia could grow the wine industry, particularly exports into the US. Since 2002, the South Australian wine industry and nationally the wine industry has been growing, but South Australia's trade into the US has dropped by 30 per cent, since the previous government was in power. What is really, really important to know—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: —is that we continue to look—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: I'm not drinking Argentinian malbec, but what I am going to say—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: I'm backing our industries as Minister for Regional Development. This government will back our economy—

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister will be seated. Member for West Torrens, you can leave for half an hour under 137A, please.

The honourable member for West Torrens having withdrawn from the chamber:

The SPEAKER: We will recommence once the member has left. Minister.

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: Thank you, sir. This government, unlike the previous government, is going to grow our exports. We are going to go to our markets and understand what we need to do to grow our economy, particularly our wine economy. We know that—

The Hon. S.C. Mullighan: You are breaking my heart, Tim, my achy-breaky heart.

The SPEAKER: Member for Lee, was that you? You can leave for half an hour, thank you.

The honourable member for Lee having withdrawn from the chamber:

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: I could do. Yes, I could do. The minister has the call.

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: Thank you, sir. As I said, it is an important question and, on this side of the chamber, the government are acting maturely to try to grow our exports, to grow our—

Mr Duluk interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Waite is warned.

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: Those opposite can laugh all they want, but it was under their watch that we lost that 30 per cent trade figure into the US. It's important if we are going to get back to what was once a 7.9 per cent export figure nationally that we represented in 2002, when you were in power. Last year it was 3.9 per cent.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: The opposition were in power. Last year, 3.9 per cent—South Australia represented the national exports. Shame. So this mature government on this side are going to grow our exports.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: Not only are we going to grow our exports but we are going to reopen trade offices that you closed.

Mr PICTON: Point of order, Mr Speaker: the minister keeps referring and criticising your behaviour.

The SPEAKER: Questions must be made through the Chair. Yes, that is correct. Is the minister almost done?

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: Yes, sir. What I will say is that we will grow our trade numbers, we will open trade offices, we will grow the economy because we understand what the South Australian economy needs.

The SPEAKER: The member for Kavel.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

An honourable member interjecting:

The SPEAKER: I will come back to you. The member for Kavel has the call.