Citrus Industry

The Hon. J.S. LEE (15:20): Supplementary: now that we have a new federal government in place, what trading agreement or agreements will be reviewed and what consultation will there be by you as a minister with the federal government to talk about the growers' industries and—

The Hon. C.M. Scriven: Talk about the what industry?

The Hon. J.S. LEE: To the orange growers—about these trading agreements, if any?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:21): Thank you. I'm not sure that really relates to the launch of the citrus season, but just very briefly I'm happy to answer that. Of course, I will be liaising with whoever our new ministers are that have portfolios that relate to my portfolio, as I'm sure my other state colleagues will be doing.

I think what we can look forward to is a twofold approach to the state and federal relationships. We won't be just laying down and rolling over whenever the federal government says something. What we will be doing, in the first place, is advocating and consulting and actually having a healthy partnership and, secondly, if the interests of our state and the interests of the industries within our state and the citizens of our state are not being supported by the federal government, we will be standing up for our state. We will be willing to take it to the federal government and stand up for our state.

I appreciate, of course, that this is in very stark contrast to the behaviour of the former Liberal government and former Premier Marshall.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: We know that part of the reputational issue that the former Premier had and the former Liberal government had—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order, the Hon. Mr Wortley, Leader of the Government! Continue. Are you nearly finished?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: We know that part of the reputational problem that the former Liberal government had and part of the reputational problem that former Premier Steven Marshall had was that they would not stand up for South Australia's interests.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Wortley, Leader of the Government!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Indeed, as the Hon. Mr Maher says—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Ms Lee!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —the federal government would make cuts, and what did we have from the former Premier? He was the smiling quokka. I can assure you that Premier Malinauskas, the member for Croydon, is not someone who will be smiling and nodding behind while South Australian interests are destroyed. He will not be smiling and nodding and bowing his head because, 'Oh my goodness, the Prime Minister has deigned to come and visit this little outpost of South Australia.' That is not the view that we have of our state. That is not the view that those on this side of the chamber have of our state.

As opposed to those opposite, we know that South Australia has huge economic potential. We know that South Australia well and truly punches above its weight on almost every criterion one could ask, and we know that the role of a Premier is to lead. The role of a Premier is to show leadership. I'm very pleased that under Peter Malinauskas we have a Premier who will lead, we have a Premier who will stand up when necessary to the federal government, and we have a Premier that all South Australians can be proud of.