House of Assembly Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1) 54 1 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Regional Impact Statements Regional Impact Statements Mr HUGHES House of Assembly Giles 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 House of Assembly The Hon. S.K. Knoll: You are going to ask that question with a straight face? The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: The Minister for Transport and Infrastructure is called to order. The Hon. V.A. Chapman House of Assembly The Hon. V.A. Chapman: Ask Rory McEwen about that. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: The Deputy Premier is called to order. The minister has the call. The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE House of Assembly Chaffey Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development 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 House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! It was a fair question. It was in order. Minister, please answer it. The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE House of Assembly The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: Hear, hear! Thank you, and I thank the member for his question. Mr Duluk interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: The member for Waite is on two warnings. The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE House of Assembly 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 House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! I believe the minister is attempting to answer the question. Please do not interject. The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE House of Assembly 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 House of Assembly The SPEAKER: The member for Mawson! The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE House of Assembly 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 House of Assembly Mr PICTON: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: 98, debate. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Point of order, for debate. When you talk about Eyre Peninsula and the Leader of the Opposition travelling there— An honourable member House of Assembly An honourable member: It's an oxymoron. The Speaker House of Assembly 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 House of Assembly The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: What I will say is that this government, the— The Hon. V.A. Chapman interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: The Deputy Premier is warned. The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE House of Assembly 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 House of Assembly The SPEAKER: The leader will cease interjecting. I give him great latitude most days. The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE House of Assembly 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 House of Assembly 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 House of Assembly The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition! Shortly, I am going to have to ask him to leave if he continues this way.