PASTORAL LEASE RENTS

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (15:10): My supplementary question: will the minister concede that officers of PIRSA have a much greater ability to understand the negative effects that the significant increase in pastoral lease rates will have on agricultural producers and production in the pastoral areas of the state?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the Status of Women) (15:10): I thank the honourable member for his question. The honourable member is quite right that PIRSA officers do have a great deal of knowledge and understanding around pastoral matters, particularly in relation to stock densities and markets, biosecurity issues and suchlike. However, there are also significant environmental issues around pastoral leases. Having visited a number of stations within the last month, I have seen some of the flood damage there. I have been up there since the floods have receded and it is quite remarkable.

The outback is quite green at the moment and there are a lot of very plump, fat, shiny animals out there grazing, so they are doing very well from that. However, there are significant environmental issues around hoofed animals. The way they eat grasses: unlike kangaroos that have a scissor action and cut grass off, these animals pull grasses out by the roots so it is much more damaging to them. There are also issues with water management and supply, and catchment management as well, so there are significant environmental issues.

We also see the significant environmental impact of animals like camels to the region. A number of quite complex issues are involved, so the environment definitely does have a significant role to play in that. If we do not manage those environmental issues well then we will destroy all future prospects, or destroy future prospects for a considerable period of time. So it is within all of our interests (including the pastoralists' interests) to make sure that we manage those things. The input from both perspectives is valuable and contributes in a significant way.