Drought Assistance

Mr TRELOAR (Flinders) (14:18): My question is to the—

The Hon. S.K. Knoll interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Minister for Transport is called to order. The member for Flinders has the call.

Mr TRELOAR: Thank you, sir. My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Can the minister update the house on how the state government—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr TRELOAR: —is delivering support for farmers—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for West Torrens and the Premier, could you please stop this? Thank you. The member for Flinders has the call.

Mr TRELOAR: My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Can the minister update the house on how the state government is delivering support to farmers to drought-proof their properties and build resilience?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE (Chaffey—Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development) (14:18): I thank the member for Flinders for his very important question.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: He would know better than most how drought-stricken farmers are struggling, particularly with watering their livestock, having to cart water into properties to make sure that they are watered and looked after. What I would say is that, in travelling around much of South Australia, and in many of my regional visits with the member for Flinders, we have now—

The Hon. S.C. Mullighan interjecting:

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

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: —worked with the Coalition, the state government, in announcing a $5 million federal rebate to drought-affected livestock farmers who invest in on-farm water efficiencies.

Last month, along with federal Minister for Agriculture, David Littleproud, I made the announcement. It is an announcement that has been part of the Prime Minister's drought strategy and it assists South Australian farmers in drought to buy and install new water infrastructure to make their properties more drought resilient. Drought-affected farmers can claim up to 25 per cent of new water infrastructure, capped at $25,000. It is retrospective, however, to 1July 2018. It is important that many South Australian livestock farmers are given support in droughtproofing or, what we call, futureproofing their farms. This is part of the $50 million On-Farm Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate Scheme.

I can update the house that we have had 14 applications here in South Australia to date and 148 calls to the hotline seeking over $105,000, and there are many more projects that are looking for approved funding. This rebate scheme is ensuring long-term viability and preparedness against drought conditions. As I said, it's about futureproofing, it's about droughtproofing our farms, giving livestock farmers the tools to be able to upgrade existing infrastructure to mitigate degradation of natural watering posts. It also addresses animal welfare needs. We have seen some of the terrible footage showing drought-stricken farms, particularly on the east coast where we have seen animals that have struggled particularly with feed and water needs.

This scheme will enable farmers to purchase and install pipes, water storages, water pumps, desilting dams, drilling new stock water bores and associated infrastructure, including small desal plants. It also gives farmers the ability to buy power supplies such as generators. The Marshall Liberal government has worked constructively, in an adult fashion, with the commonwealth government to look at ways to futureproof our farms because we know that in times of drought good leadership and government collaboration are needed, and that is exactly what this government has provided in dealing with the needs of drought. We know that #RegionsMatter.