Country Shows Funding

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE (15:08): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the minister representing the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries questions about funding for country shows.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE: In September, it was revealed that this government had decided to cut important funding from country shows, funding through PIRSA worth $40,000. Anyone who has lived in a country town or a regional area would understand that the yearly show is part of the fabric of rural Australia, that the local show underpins the culture of our country communities. This penny-pinching move will affect more than 50 country shows across this state. A number of show societies have already reported that they will be forced to push up the entry fee by around 50 per cent in an effort to try to save their local show. Smaller shows, such as the Bordertown Spring Festival, are already struggling to survive and simply cannot afford to lose those subsidies. My questions to the minister are:

1. Is it true that country show funding has been cut each year over the past couple of years in the lead-up to the government's announcement in September that it intended to end funding altogether?

2. Can the minister tell us how much funding was allocated to country shows in the years 2013, 2014 and 2015?

3. Will this government show some compassion and consideration for rural South Australians by putting this money back on the table?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change) (15:09): I thank the honourable member for his most excellent questions. I should just highlight to the Hon. Mr Dawkins that that is how you ask a question in this place: you don't assume that assertions that have been handed to you are true or not; you ask a question in this place, asking for information to confirm whether your assertions are true or not. You don't make incredibly ludicrous statements in this place and expect to be taken seriously. The Hon. Mr Brokenshire, by contrast, comes in here and is respectfully asking for information, and that's exactly how it should be done. I will, therefore, take the honourable member's most important question to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries in the other place and seek a response on his behalf.