Fleurieu Peninsula

Mr BASHAM (Finniss) (14:48): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development.

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition is warned.

Mr BASHAM: Can the minister advise the house on how the state government is investing in jobs and economic growth on the Fleurieu Peninsula?

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE (Chaffey—Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development) (14:48): I thank the good member for Finniss for his question and it's a really important question. What I can say is that this government have been out visiting the regions. We don't need country cabinets. We are out there visiting the regions for a very good reason—

Mr Hughes interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Giles is warned.

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: —and that is for the prosperity of the regions in South Australia, particularly for job creation and economic growth. I was given the opportunity on one of my many regional tours to visit the Fleurieu Peninsula in the good member's electorate and I called in to the Goolwa PipiCo. It was great to have the local member there to understand exactly what a success story this is within the fishing sector.

Goolwa PipiCo exemplifies what good stewardship of the fishing sector is doing. Currently, it has now partnered with the Ngarrindjeri people with a concept to expand its processing facility, but it is also rebranding some of its value-added product. We all know that pipis once upon a time were called cockles. They were a low-value product. They were used for fishing bait. Nowadays, we are seeing a high-value product going into premium restaurants and fetching somewhere in the vicinity of $20 a kilo. It is an outstanding success story. What I would like to say is that the expansion of the facility at Goolwa, at Port Elliot, PipiCo—

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Leader!

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: —has now come together with the Ngarrindjeri people. The Ngarrindjeri now have a pipi licence, and they are now marketing it to the world. It is a very, very great success story. What we are seeing is an extra 11 jobs for a taxpayers' investment of $490,000 into Goolwa PipiCo. What we are seeing traditionally now are jobs, training and opportunity for the Ngarrindjeri people down at Port Elliot.

It is a success story, and I do want to commend the local member for his involvement. He has been an outstanding advocate not only for the pipi industry but also for the expansion of PipiCo. Also, he has been instrumental in the support that he has given that business and the Ngarrindjeri people to come together for one of South Australia's great success stories.

What I can say is that not only have they raised the bar but they have increased a low-value commodity to a high-value, sought-after product, particularly in our restaurants. The fisheries now are a key industry in Finniss, complemented by the Goolwa Pipi company, and I think it is really important that we look closely—

Mr Hughes interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Giles!

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: —at how South Australia can actually stand behind some of these success stories. This government has done that. We have actually done that with the Regional Growth Fund.

While I was down there, Billy Dohnt, a local identity, was cooking a pipi paella, and no wonder he has got himself up into the highlights of all the cookbooks—his paellas are to die for. They were just outstanding. So a pipi paella at Goolwa PipiCo was a key to success—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: —but what I would say is that we are backing our regions. We are backing the regions because we know hashtag #RegionsMatter.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Mawson and the member for Giles are on two warnings. The Leader of the Opposition has the call.