Recreational Fishing and Camping Facilities Program

Mr COWDREY (Colton) (14:34): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Can the minister please update the house on how the Marshall Liberal government is backing business through investment in recreational fishing infrastructure?

The Hon. D.K.B. BASHAM (Finniss—Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development) (14:35): I thank the member for his great question. As the member knows, South Australia has an incredibly proud—

Ms Hildyard interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Reynell is warned.

The Hon. D.K.B. BASHAM: —fishing sector—

Mr Odenwalder interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Elizabeth is warned.

The Hon. D.K.B. BASHAM: —which plays a role in the social and economic fabric of our state—

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Leader!

The Hon. D.K.B. BASHAM: —contributing more than $160 million. We know that when—

Ms Hildyard interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Reynell is warned for a second time.

The Hon. D.K.B. BASHAM: We know when people fish, there are significant economic benefits: people enjoy staying in the regions, they enjoy visiting their local tackle shop, eating at local restaurants and spending in the communities. This all supports jobs.

More than $1.7 million is being made available for South Australian projects to improve and develop new fishing, boating and camping facilities in the recreational fishing sector. The Recreational Fishing and Camping Facilities program is being funded by the Australian government in partnership with the Liberal Marshall government. It will improve marine and freshwater fishing opportunities for both locals and visitors.

We will see the exciting funding of programs when councils apply to maintain and build new facilities in their areas, whether it be marine rescue, fishing or camping facilities. We will see it in areas like down at Robe in the member for MacKillop's electorate, where people go out crayfishing—there is an opportunity there—and in the beautiful seat of Finniss there is an opportunity to go out fishing on the Pages.

In the city, whether you go out from West Beach in the member for Colton's electorate, go out fishing in those wonderful areas out in the bays, or whether it be over in the Narungga electorate on Yorke Peninsula going out from Moonta, or whether it be on the West Coast, where the member for Flinders has about half that state's coast in his electorate—Tumby Bay, Port Lincoln and Streaky Bay—these are wonderful areas to go out and enjoy the community and invest in our fishing sector.

Applications are now open for project funding ranging between $3,500 and $200,000. It will be up to local councils to go out and improve the facilities in their regions. It will deliver tangible benefits across the state, particularly boosting tourism and delivering practical value for an estimated 277,000 South Australian men, women and children who love recreational fishing.

The Marshall Liberal government is supportive of ensuring more South Australians can enjoy boating, camping and fishing. But this isn't just fishing in the coastal areas, it is also fishing in our rivers. Whether it be in the member for Hammond's electorate fishing at Murray Bridge or in the member for Chaffey's electorate in the Riverland, there are many opportunities. It even includes fishing in the reservoirs that have proudly been opened by the Minister for Environment and Water.

There are great opportunities for money to be invested in the regions, and this will see much-needed funds go to local councils to improve the jetties, the camping facilities and the boat ramps, creating jobs in our local and regional communities and providing an opportunity for people to get out there and enjoy the natural environment we have in South Australia.

This is a fantastic opportunity for councils to invest in their areas, invest in what people want in their local areas, improve those facilities, and get people out there fishing, get people out enjoying the environment. This is a great opportunity for South Australians.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Before I call the leader, I warn the member for Elizabeth for a second time and I call to order and warn the member for Cheltenham.