National Drought Summit

Mr TRELOAR (Flinders) (15:07): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries. What were the outcomes for South Australia from the National Drought Summit?

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE (Chaffey—Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development) (15:07): I thank the member for Flinders for his very important question and, yes, I can. On October 26, the Deputy Premier and I travelled to Canberra to attend the Prime Minister's Drought Summit. It was a very important summit. All of the states' premiers, agricultural ministers and commodity leaders were in the Old Chamber of Old Parliament House. It was a very constructive debate. It was a very constructive conversation that we had.

The Deputy Premier did South Australia proud in her presentation to the nation when it came to painting a picture of where South Australia was with the stresses of drought here, particularly in some areas. I know the member for Flinders has some areas of concern on the east side of his electorate, as do other regional members in this chamber.

What we witnessed was the Prime Minister making a commitment to farmers and to Australia that the federal government was going to stand side by side with them to help droughtproof Australian farms. What we saw was a commitment to put $5 billion on the table: $3.8 billion by 2019 and the remaining money by 2028. The proceeds of that money would be used to droughtproof farmers right across the nation. We also wanted to make sure that the priority of governments—the priority of everyone—was to make sure that the health and wellbeing of those farmers who are doing it tough was being looked after.

We have to understand that some on the eastern seaboard have seen five or six years of drought. Here in South Australia, there have been areas that have been affected over the last two seasons. What we saw was $13 million put in place to look after the mental health and wellbeing of our farmers. We also saw a commitment to further droughtproof our farms. An amount of $50 million was put on the table to look at water infrastructure. Some of that water infrastructure on farms to help droughtproof those farms includes pipe infrastructure, bores, dams, pumps—and we are looking further afield to how we can help droughtproof and better prepare our farmers in times of need.

While we were over there, again I met with Major General Stephen Day. It is really important to understand that his recent visit to South Australia was also very important in setting up the structure to help those council areas that are doing it tough.

Mr Hughes interjecting:

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

Mr Hughes interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Giles will cease interjecting. The minister has the call.

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: What we saw was the continuation of the communities drought program, and it was an extension—

The Hon. A. Piccolo interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Light is warned.

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: It was a $21 million extension. What we saw was 17 councils here in South Australia that each received $1 million of support. That $1 million is there to support those council areas that are impacted by drought. It is there to help with the loss of jobs at the silo; it's there to help with the loss of truck drivers; it's there to help with the loss of productivity in a small regional community that has been impacted by drought. What I would say is that on this side of the house we attended that summit in good faith. While those on the other side—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Members on my left!

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: —can bleat all they want, we offered our hand as a bipartisan approach. As I did, I introduced the member for Giles to Major General Day and we will continue to work with the federal government.

The SPEAKER: The minister's time has expired. The member for Mawson and then the member for Frome.