Landcare

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE (15:24): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the illustrious Acting Leader of Government Business and the Minister for Environment (and a host of other portfolio areas) a question regarding Landcare grants.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE: In September the federal minister for agriculture, the very honourable Barnaby Joyce and the very, very honourable Mr Greg Hunt, the environment minister, launched the 2014-15 redesign of the new National Landcare Program. The funding from this program complements the regional stream of the National Landcare Program and requires regional NRM organisations to direct a minimum of 20 per cent of their allocated funding towards local groups. This means local projects and activities undertaken by community groups will share an approximately $90 million worth of funding over four years.

During the debate on the Natural Resources Management (Review) Amendment Bill back in 2013, Family First made a similar proposal. I asked the committee to consider reasonable levels of support for community organisations which contributed to the management of natural resources in their region. I suggested a benchmark of 10 per cent. To me, and to the many organisations involved in natural resource management, this was an important point for consideration, because it went to the heart of community organisational recognition, allowing 10 per cent of each board's levy revenue to be used for grants to local volunteer groups. Unfortunately, this amendment at that time received no support from the government. My questions therefore are (and this is his chance to give me what I am asking for):

1. Now that the federal government has taken the lead and shown that this plan makes sense, will the South Australian government commit to following suit?

2. Will this government go back to the drawing board and reconsider the proposal for allocated funding of at least 10 per cent?

3. If this government does agree that money should be allocated from each NRM board's levy revenue and used for local Landcare groups and others, what steps will the government take to ensure this happens?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:27): The answers to the honourable member's questions are: No, no, and I understand that it will be up to the NRM boards to come up with those policies themselves.