WIND FARMS

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:45): Given the minister says the Yorke Peninsula issues have an indefinite time frame, will the government wait and see whether Yorke Peninsula is designated a primary production priority area before the minister is happy for her cabinet colleagues to sign off on the 200-turbine wind station?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:45): I do not believe that that exercise is necessary to the completion of the planning assessment for this wind farm. People are well aware of the value of Yorke Peninsula in terms of its primary production. We do not need another report to tell us that; it has a long established history and it has high productivity. For the purposes of that particular exercise, I do not believe this report is necessary. These reports are largely designed to assist in the planning of investment in future primary production activities in the area.