Drought Assistance

Mr TRELOAR (Flinders) (14:32): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Can the minister provide an update to the house on how the state government is providing mentor support to communities in drought-affected areas?

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE (Chaffey—Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development) (14:32): I thank the member for Flinders for his very important question. Like me, he fully understands some of the pressures that our farmers are facing at the moment, particularly in parts of his electorate, particularly on eastern Eyre Peninsula. There are a number of areas in South Australia that are in drought conditions. This week, I was very proud to announce the names of the eight FaB scouts that are part of a program that will also bolster families and communities going through those really tough times.

This government's priority for those families, those communities, is about their wellbeing, their mental health. To do that, the eight Family and Business Support mentors—or the eight FaB scouts—will be deployed right across drought-affected areas in South Australia. Working with the dry working group and industry representatives, we have highlighted one area that we think needs to be bolstered to make sure that we are supporting those families who are doing it extremely tough.

As well as the Family and Business Support program, it's about identifying the farmers. It's about driving up the driveway. It's having the capacity as a good community samaritan, as someone who is highly respected within some of our regional communities, to have the capacity to sit down at the kitchen table, have a cup of tea, go out to the shed, out to the shearing shed, and have a conversation and understand just what pressures those particular families are under.

The program connects with the mentors and the community and the government services that might be needed in some cases. I also encourage people to reach out and speak to the mentors. They have an understanding ear. I, myself, experienced them firsthand during the Millennium Drought. It's really important that we give those people not only the support but the confidence that they are not alone in doing it really tough during these dry times.

Rural Business Support is also commended for the great work it is doing out there helping those families, not only looking at their financial situation but also giving them the moral support to fill out the paperwork, making sure they can access the household allowance, making sure those FaB scouts are backed up. It is also important to note that Livestock SA is also doing the fodder register, and that the national drought coordinator, Major General Stephen Day, recently visited South Australia to get a better understanding and report back to the Prime Minister on what further support measures the commonwealth government can put in place.

The FaB scout mentors in our regions will be covering the area. They are: Helen Lamont, Eyre Peninsula; Robyn Cain, Murray Mallee and the Upper North; John Chase, from the Murray Mallee; Brent Fletcher, Murray Mallee and pastoral; Judy Wilkinson, the Upper North; Kay Matthias, who is the FaB Scout team mentor as well as the Mid-North; Jeanette Long, Eyre Peninsula; and John White in the Upper North and pastoral.

The FaB Scout program is an excellent program, and this government is recognising the great work they are doing, because hashtag #RegionsMatter.