Regional Impact Statements

Mr HUGHES (Giles) (15:03): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Can the minister assure the house that regional impact statements have been undertaken for savings measures in the primary industries and regions portfolio?

The Hon. S.K. Knoll: You are going to ask that question with a straight face?

The SPEAKER: The Minister for Transport and Infrastructure is called to order.

The Hon. V.A. Chapman: Ask Rory McEwen about that.

The SPEAKER: The Deputy Premier is called to order. The minister has the call.

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE (Chaffey—Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development) (15:04): Welcome to the shadow ministry. You have been elevated to be able to ask a proper question, so thank you. It's good to have you here, Eddie.

The SPEAKER: Order! It was a fair question. It was in order. Minister, please answer it.

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: Hear, hear! Thank you, and I thank the member for his question.

Mr Duluk interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Waite is on two warnings.

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: Yes, the regions have been given to me as a priority, as is primary industries. What I will say is that all the regions matter. Every region will have—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I believe the minister is attempting to answer the question. Please do not interject.

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: Every region of South Australia will have an impact assessment done on them, every region in South Australia. Every region will have the support of this government to help it grow, to help it prosper, to make sure that we've got our skills minister making sure that we can upskill our population, making sure that we can actually put a workforce into the meatworks, making sure that we can put a workforce on the ground within horticulture and agriculture.

This is a government that is actually prioritising regional South Australia. Albeit that they are 28 per cent of the state's population, the regions of South Australia are of critical importance to the state's economy. What I will say is that regional South Australia, which I visited previously—in the last 10 days 13 regions I visited, so, yes, I am out there, prioritising, meeting, understanding what the regions—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Mawson!

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: —are meaning to South Australia's economy. While we had the opposition leader over there bleating and getting lost one day and ending up over on Eyre Peninsula, this government is visiting—

Mr PICTON: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: 98, debate.

The SPEAKER: Point of order, for debate. When you talk about Eyre Peninsula and the Leader of the Opposition travelling there—

An honourable member: It's an oxymoron.

The SPEAKER: It could be an oxymoron, but it is not really relevant to the question. Minister, would you like to wrap it up.

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: What I will say is that this government, the—

The Hon. V.A. Chapman interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Deputy Premier is warned.

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: —Marshall Liberal government, will give the support to the regions of South Australia that it needs. For 16 long years that it has been—

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The leader will cease interjecting. I give him great latitude most days.

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: For 16 long years, the regions have been put on the backburner. What I will say is that this government has promised, has delivered and will continue to prioritise the regions of South Australia because hashtag #RegionsMatter.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my left! The member for Reynell is on two warnings, and I warn her again that she is on two warnings.

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition! Shortly, I am going to have to ask him to leave if he continues this way.