Drought Assistance

Mr McBRIDE (MacKillop) (14:41): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Can the minister update the house on how the Marshall Liberal government is delivering support for drought-affected farmers?

The Hon. D.K.B. BASHAM (Finniss—Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development) (14:41): I thank the member for MacKillop for his important question and his interest in the concerns of drought-affected farmers. Today, the Marshall Liberal government announced an additional $3.45 million towards the On-farm Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate Scheme to support drought-affected farmers. The scheme was understandably inundated by farmers in drought communities. Commonwealth and state funding was exhausted earlier this year.

During a recent series of drought forums in the Mid North and the Flinders Ranges, farmers raised the importance of providing further financial support for the rebate scheme. We continue to hear about—

Mr Picton interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, the member for Kaurna!

The Hon. D.K.B. BASHAM: Point of order, Mr Speaker: I take offence at the comments about my hand shaking. I have an involuntary hand shake that is a medical-related condition.

The SPEAKER: Did the minister hear any particular member making—

The Hon. D.K.B. BASHAM: The member for Kaurna, sir.

The SPEAKER: I must say I heard the member for Kaurna.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my right! I heard the member say words to that effect. The minister having raised the matter and taking personal offence at those remarks, I ask the member for Kaurna to withdraw those remarks.

Mr PICTON: I withdraw and apologise. I wasn't aware of that fact.

The SPEAKER: The minister has the call. The minister.

The Hon. D.K.B. BASHAM: Thank you, sir.

The Hon. S.S. Marshall: What a joke.

The SPEAKER: Premier!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my right! Members on my left, order! The minister has the call.

The Hon. S.C. Mullighan: The weakest premier the state's seen.

The SPEAKER: The member for Lee will leave under 137A for 30 minutes and he will leave in silence.

The honourable member for Lee having withdrawn from the chamber:

The SPEAKER: The minister has the call.

The Hon. D.K.B. BASHAM: The scheme helps drought-affected farmers, livestock farmers and horticultural producers to install on-farm water infrastructure, such as water storages, pumps, pipes, distilling dams and associated power supplies, such as generators. Primary producers who have applied for the rebate scheme are assessed for up to 30 per cent of the projects, up to a maximum of $30,000 for each project.

This government understands the importance of listening to farmers and sharing drought support based on feedback. We are opening another round for those who may have installed water infrastructure, spent the money already but haven't had the opportunity to apply. Despite recent rains, many parts of South Australia are still suffering through drought and we are proud to be continuing to support those farmers during these tough times.

Nearly 450 primary producers across South Australia have received support so far under the scheme. As of 18 September this year, some of the state's most drought-affected regions have been beneficiaries of the program. The unincorporated pastoral lands has had 37 applications approved, totalling $840,000, the district council of Goyder has had 28 applications totalling more than $350,000, and the District Council of Cleve had 26 applications totalling over $200,000.

I have also written to Minister Pitt at a federal level to seek further financial support for the very successful scheme. If the commonwealth fulfils this request, it is expected that each applicant would receive a maximum of $50,000, in line with the previous rebate. The additional funding is from the Marshall Liberal government's $21 million drought support program, which has already provided immediate assistance through a number of initiatives, including the council rebates and the wild dogs bounty program. To date, more than 800 wild dogs have been destroyed through the government's trapper program and wild dogs bounty.

We have also issued more than $750,000 through pastoral lease rebates for 220 pastoralists and more than $780,000 through our drought-affected council rebate scheme. The government has provided mental health and wellbeing support through extra resources through our family benefit support mentors and Rural Business Support. We continue to work with the farming sector as we battle through the ongoing drought because we know the importance of agriculture to this state.