Legislative Council Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1) 55 1 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Regional Visits Regional Visits The Hon. R.B. MARTIN Legislative Council Regional Visits The Hon. R.B. MARTIN (14:29): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Will the minister please inform the chamber about how important it is, as a minister, to get out into the regions? The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN Legislative Council Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister for Forest Industries Regional Visits The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:29): I thank the honourable member for his question. It's incredibly important that members of this place do understand the importance of engaging with people in the regions. It's important, as Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development and Minister for Forest Industries, to be out in our regions talking to people, businesses and industries and listening to them so that government can better respond to their needs. Since the election, my ministerial colleagues and myself have made significant efforts to get out and understand what is happening in regional South Australia, with regular trips to many parts of our state. This is on top of the country cabinets that all ministers and chief executives of government departments have already held, with many more planned. We have already had three country cabinets since coming into government in March, which is three more than the Liberals held in their four years in government. At the public forums for Mount Gambier and Port Pirie— Members interjecting: The President Legislative Council The PRESIDENT: Order! Members interjecting: The President Legislative Council The PRESIDENT: Order, the Hon. Leader of the Opposition, the Leader of the Government and the Government Whip! Members interjecting: The President Legislative Council The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Leader of the Opposition! Sit down, minister. The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting: The President Legislative Council The PRESIDENT: Leader of the Government! The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN Legislative Council Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister for Forest Industries The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: At the public forums in Mount Gambier and Port Pirie it was standing room only, as hundreds of regional residents turned out to engage with the government on issues that matter to them. Not having country cabinets was one of the criticisms of the now opposition, it would appear. For example, in the leaked 41-page review of the Liberal's election loss, they suggested to start holding them once more as it is, and I quote, 'important that the Liberal Party regain the confidence of rural South Australia'. But perhaps the members opposite have taken the advice from this leaked report—certainly that would seem to be a logical thing to do—and agreed with the recommendations in that report around the need to engage with country residents through country cabinets. As I note, after a long hiatus— The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO Legislative Council The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO: Point of order: I would argue that the minister is leaning into a debate, rather than answering the actual question. The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN Legislative Council Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister for Forest Industries The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: What standing order? The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO Legislative Council The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO: We didn't ask for an update on the Liberal Party. You are supposed to be answering your Dixer, which is around the regions. The President Legislative Council The PRESIDENT: Order! Members interjecting: The President Legislative Council The PRESIDENT: Order! Minister, please continue. The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN Legislative Council Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister for Forest Industries The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Thank you, Mr President. With pleasure I shall continue. The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting: The President Legislative Council The PRESIDENT: You'll be getting a holiday before you need to have one. The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN Legislative Council Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister for Forest Industries The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Perhaps they agreed with the recommendations, the Liberals, around the need to engage with country residents through country cabinets. As I note, after a long hiatus the opposition has finally had a meeting with local residents in Naracoorte. It is interesting, though, that they didn't have a public forum in Mount Gambier, as far as I can see. In my time as shadow minister— Members interjecting: The President Legislative Council The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN Legislative Council Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister for Forest Industries The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —and indeed since— Members interjecting: The President Legislative Council The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN Legislative Council Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister for Forest Industries The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —I have heard that in many regions— Members interjecting: The President Legislative Council The PRESIDENT: Order! Sit down again. Minister, I would like you to conclude your remarks. It's taking too long. I would like the opposition to listen in silence so we can move onto the next question. The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN Legislative Council Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister for Forest Industries The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: I heard, both when we were in opposition but also since we have been in government, criticism of those opposite, that they didn't get out very much and, when they did, they only wanted to meet with Liberal Party members and donors. Perhaps they have learnt, in which case I look forward to seeing them out in the regions more, as an entire opposition shadow cabinet. Members interjecting: The President Legislative Council The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Wortley and the Leader of the Government!