Bushfire Recovery Support

Mr TRELOAR (Flinders) (17:39): My question is to the Acting Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Can the minister inform the house how the state government is supporting farmers to address the impacts of the recent bushfires?

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart—Minister for Energy and Mining) (17:39): I thank the member for Flinders for this question. Let me acknowledge at the beginning that it is not only farmers who have been impacted by these bushfires, but I will address the substance of the question, which is about farmers. Our government has been very involved in supporting farmers in many places across the state and, as acting minister, I would like to thank those people in PIRSA and others, of course, who have been working incredibly hard to support our farmers across the region at this time, support them with immediate assistance and also support them into recovery.

With regard to agricultural assessments, PIRSA has been on the ground in all areas impacted by the recent devastating bushfires, undertaking agricultural assessments, working with the livestock, apiary, horticulture, viticulture, forestry, aquaculture and fishing industries, as well as boutique local producers on Kangaroo Island. With regard to losses, as of 31 January the overall agricultural economic impact of these fires has been $22 million. Specific production losses to the agricultural industry include:

livestock: 60,000 head of stock, 53,000 of which were on Kangaroo Island;

apiary: 2,075 hives, which equates to about 27 tonnes of honey lost;

viticulture: 530 hectares;

horticulture: 70 hectares;

cropping: 1,600 hectares; and

forestry: 15,480 hectares.

With regard to recovery grants and other assistance to producers, bushfire-affected primary producers in South Australia may be eligible to apply for up to $75,000 of grant support. The Emergency Response in Primary Industries Grant can be used for clean-up, disposing of damaged goods and livestock, and repairing or replacing fencing, plant and equipment. Twenty-five applications have been received, with $1.045 million paid out to 17 farmers so far. Assessment time by PIRSA is a mere two days, and I stress that point. PIRSA is doing everything they can to help access support as quickly as possible. Grants are also available in these—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: I hope the opposition is interested in the answer to this question. Grants are available in council areas of the Adelaide Hills, Kangaroo Island, Murray Bridge, Mount Barker, Mid Murray, Yorke Peninsula and Kingston. The Marshall Liberal government is jointly funding these grants with our federal government colleagues, and funding is available until 31 July this year. PIRSA is assisting primary producers apply for grants at the Parndana and Lobethal recovery centres, PIRSA regional offices and via the dedicated Recovery Hotline: 1800 931 314.

Working with Livestock SA has also been an important feature of this support by the South Australian government. More than 2,000 tonnes of fodder have been donated to support farmers, with Livestock SA as our designated agency, and $120,000 to transport donated fodder, coordinated by Livestock SA, across to Kangaroo Island on the ferry. Livestock SA are also working with the Australian Defence Force. Farmers wanting access to water for stock or donated fodder can also contact Livestock SA. The government is supporting farmers with regard to veterinary assistance. Also, there is specific support for the wine industry with their challenges to do with smoke taint.