Legislative Council Fifty-Third Parliament, First Session (53-1) 53 1 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Pastoral Board Pastoral Board The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE Legislative Council Pastoral Board The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE (16:14): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation a question about the future of the Pastoral Land Management and Conservation Act 1989. Leave granted. The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE Legislative Council The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE: As mentioned on 28 October in this parliament, the Pastoral Board was established to administer the Pastoral Land Management and Conservation Act 1989, which included management of the pastoral lease system, implementation of property plans to prevent land degradation, and also collecting and recording annual stock returns and assisting the Valuer-General in determining the far too high pastoral rents. Also on 28 October, I asked the honourable minister Hunter whether the government had plans to abolish or amend the Pastoral Land Management and Conservation Act. The honourable minister's answer was, and I quote, 'I have nothing further to say at this point in time.' My esteemed colleague was also unable to elaborate, when asked the question by the Hon. David Ridgway, on whether the announcement had been made to abolish the boards without any plans in place as to how the government planned to interact with the industry or how the industry would connect with the government. Therefore, I try again, and my questions through you, Mr President, to the minister are: 1.	Since I last stood in this chamber asking sensible questions about what the future holds for pastoralists following the elimination of the Pastoral Board, has the minister had time to recollect if he plans to abolish or amend the act? 2.	If considering amendments to the Pastoral Act, will the government commit to providing pastoralists the same diversification opportunities they have now? 3.	If the government is not going to support drought relief assistance, will you allow permits so that, if the lease is capable of any diversification opportunities, the lessee can pursue these opportunities? For example: grow some hay and fodder on self-mulching soils to feed a breeder herd. 4.	Will the government commit to trialling new ventures here in South Australia for the pastoralists? The Hon. I.K. HUNTER Legislative Council Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (16:16): I thank the honourable member for his most important questions and his intriguing suggestions to me and to the government in general. Some of those suggestions do not apply to my portfolio area, of course, but I can say to him I refer him to my answers in this place yesterday. I have nothing new to inform him or this chamber of, but I will certainly take on board his interesting suggestions and seek some advice on those.