Fishing Industry

Mr McBRIDE (MacKillop) (14:41): My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Can the minister provide an update on the lifting gantries at Beachport and Robe? With your leave, Mr Speaker, and the leave of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr McBRIDE: The lifting gantries at Beachport and Robe are important infrastructure for professional and commercial fishermen in the region. Professional and commercial fishermen suggest the lifting gantries have required replacement over many years due to the condition of these facilities.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Energy and Mining) (14:42): I am very concerned about the lifting gantries and the member's concerns. I am advised as part of an asset inspection program, work was done to see what machine faults were in place, and that work is being done to try and make sure that we can get that work done as quickly as possible. I understand that the department is working to make sure that the specifications are right and that they are compatible for current and future upgrades to be done to the site.

We will keep the member informed. He is right to raise it in this parliament, and he is right to raise it in question time because it is urgent and important, and it's important for the people of his community that we get this right. Thank you very much for raising it with us. I want to make sure that we can get a response to you as quickly as possible. Once I have all the technical assessments done and given back to me, the department will act on that swiftly to make sure that we can do everything we can to keep those boats on the water and keep those businesses working because it's an important, productive part of our state.

The Premier has put a focus on the South-East of South Australia for the economic activity that it provides our state. He has said to the cabinet on numerous occasions, it is not Adelaide that needs the South-East—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: You're right, it's the opposite.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Thank you very much. It's an important part of our community and we want to make sure that we can look after it. But, most importantly, what the people of the South-East now have, and what they didn't have previously, are two Independent voices. Those Independent voices carry great weight that reverberate within the halls of power.

When the member for Mount Gambier and the member for MacKillop speak, people in the government listen because they are serious political players who are looking to get good outcomes for their communities and are not interested in anyone else's benefit other than the people of their local community. So when they come to us with a problem, we know that it's not tied with self-interest, we know it's not tied with some political agenda; it's just about getting a good outcome for the people of the South-East, as have the people of Yorke Peninsula with an exceptional representative there as well. So we will be acting and acting swiftly.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Premier is called to order.