Regional South Australia

Mr ELLIS (Narungga) (14:25): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Can the minister update the house on how the state government is supporting and building our regions?

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE (Chaffey—Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development) (14:25): I thank the member for Narungga for his very important question. Yes, this government's agenda is to build all of South Australia as well as put a serious focus on the regions. It was great to be up in the member for Narungga's electorate last week on one of my regional visits around the state. He is a great host. Not only did we get out to the grain belt of Yorke Peninsula but we went down and had a look at some of the seafood opportunities that Yorke Peninsula is currently presenting not only to our economy but to the great palates of people visiting South Australia.

We know that the grain industry here in South Australia is one of the major economic platforms—$1.7 billion. It is underpinned by 4½ thousand grain growers across South Australia. We know that they have been doing it tough, and that is why I was over at Yorke Peninsula at Mark Schilling's property at Cunliffe to make the announcement of a $140,000 grant to the grain industry. GPSA are now looking at ways to develop that blueprint to grow the industry, making sure that blueprint is about underpinning the grain industry to be bigger, better and value-adding even more.

The announcement was, as I said, at Mark Schilling's property. It showed us while we were there, joined by the CEO of GPSA, that what farmers are now looking to do is value-add. As a government, we think that the blueprint was money well invested as to how we can help the farmers value-add. Mark Schilling has a very diverse property. He now has colour grading for his legumes. Not only that, he is now producing wheat beer. He is also producing hemp dukkah. Some of these products are now being exported around the world—it is a great initiative—as well as some of the world's best malt and barley.

That is one private grain grower here in South Australia who has taken up an initiative that we think the blueprint will underpin. Not only that, the 10-year plan is about future growth. It is about how the government can work collaboratively with industries to help them grow to underpin South Australia's economy. It is also important to note that the blueprint is based on six pillars: value-adding, market demand, on-farm innovation, building industry capacity, infrastructure investment and—one of the most important—biosecurity and quality assurance.

The first meeting has already happened at the Waite Institute. It was attended by over 80 grain growers from around the state. The great thing about that was not only their input to the blueprint but, while they were there, they were talking about the great budget initiatives that this government has presented to them—$1.1 billion of infrastructure investment into regional South Australia.

Mr Hughes interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Giles is warned.

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: We look at the $25 million that has gone into the dog fence. That is a generational piece of infrastructure that will help pastoralists and the red meat sector for generations to come.

Mr Brown interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Playford is warned.

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: There is also $7½ million for the red meat and the wool program. They are great initiatives for building primary producers' ability not only to grow their businesses but to underpin the state's economy. It is also really important to note that the Marshall Liberal government not only wants to build on the grains industry but wants to build on the economy of regional South Australia because we all know that #RegionsMatter.