Question Time

FARMING VEHICLES, UNRESTRAINED LOADS

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:22): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries a question about utilities.

Leave granted.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: As a matter of fact, it could be. In the past few weeks, a Yorke Peninsula primary producer received an expiation notice issued by the police in Kadina for an unrestrained load on the back of a farm ute. The police acknowledge that to prove this offence they must show there is an appreciable risk to other road users or road infrastructure if the item was not restrained. In other words, if an item can come out of the tray, it could be an offence.

The transport of farm machinery on roads is a big issue at seeding and harvest time. Primary producers want to transport machinery and goods safely but it is critical that regulations regarding allowable width, warning lights, escort vehicles and so on, are practical. My questions are:

1. What contact has the minister or her department had with the Minister for Police on laws and regulations relating to farm requirements and tools in a utility being restrained?

2. What has the minister or her department done to ensure that the relevant regulations are kept up to date with the size of machinery now used with modern farming practices?

3. Has the minister or her department consulted Primary Producers SA or held discussions with the machinery dealers network or the Motor Trade Association to ensure adequate representations are made to the department of transport?

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) (14:23): I thank the honourable member for his questions. Indeed, the issue not just of unrestrained loads or farming vehicles that carry other equipment or loads and the safety around that but also the size of farming equipment and other construction equipment that need to use our roads is very important.

In relation to unrestrained loads, it is most important that not just farmers but all people who are carrying loads make sure that their load is safely restrained. I am sure that all of us, at one time or other, have been behind a vehicle where part of the load or equipment has fallen off and caused a near accident. I certainly have. In fact, it was just on the weekend when I went around a roundabout behind a vehicle, and they had a load of compost-type mixture, so at least it wasn't heavy. As I they went around the roundabout, the load completely dropped off onto the bonnet of my car and window. As I said, at least that was just soft soil, so it was not a serious incident. It is beholden on us all to make sure that our loads are safely secured when we are on roadways.

In relation to farmers and unrestrained loads, to the very best of my knowledge not one farmer, farming peak organisation or representative primary industry group has ever raised that issue with me at an individual level, and I visit farms and talk to farmers all the time, and I am certainly meeting regularly with all of the peak primary industry bodies. As I said, I will check my records to make sure but, to the best of my knowledge, no-one has ever raised that issue.

However, the issue of large equipment that is used by farmers and also by businesses in the construction industry has been raised with me in the past, and I have certainly liaised in that regard. It was the minister for transport at the time who was responsible for registering and putting regulations around the requirements for equipment and loads being able to be shifted on our roads—restrictions, for instance, in that some sized vehicles can be moved only during the night and not during the day and suchlike.

Of course, more and more of our farmers are relying on buying equipment that is made overseas. Some of that equipment is made to different specifications, so what is legal for some of those roads is not necessarily legal here. We did have some very fruitful discussions, and the transport department was able to assist in accommodating the introduction of some new equipment for one firm in particular. As I said, I am happy to check my records, but to the best of my knowledge no-one has raised that issue.

As I always say in this place, my door is always open. I have had a personal and longstanding commitment not just since being elected as a member of parliament but when I was an elected union official as well. My philosophy has always been the same, and that is that, if people want to talk to me, I am more than happy to meet with them, and I meet with as many of those requests as I possibly can; it is not just the big end of town—it is not just the big organisations—but it is also individuals and their personal and individual problems. I am happy to listen to those and, where I am not able to do so, I attempt, wherever I can, to ensure that an officer who has the relevant background and information is able to meet with them.

If there are farmers who wish to talk to me about matters around unrestrained loads, I invite them to contact my office and I would be more than happy to listen to their concerns and as always, to accommodate them wherever we can and however we can. It is a balancing act: we need to make sure that we keep our roads safe as well as ensuring that our farmers can get on and do their business.