Wine Industry

The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO (14:31): Supplementary: you mentioned the recovery and strategic planning being $150,000. Is that $150,000 over 10 years, and does that equate to $15,000 per year? Are you able to actually verify how much specifically is going to individual businesses during this challenging time?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:32): I think the honourable member has either misheard or misunderstood. The figure is $100,000, which is going to fund the creation—

The Hon. H.M. Girolamo: Over how long?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: If the member would like to listen to the answer, I am sure all her questions will be answered. The figure is $100,000 to create—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —a blueprint, which is being done in conjunction with the wine association as I mentioned. So that is potentially to fund staff or a consultant to actually develop such a blueprint—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —to be liaising and consulting with those affected growers and it is an important part of developing that strategic blueprint, which will provide guidance for all of those producers. It is important to look at these things in a strategic way rather than a kneejerk reaction, which is what the opposition appear to be suggesting. This is what the producers have asked for.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: This is what the producers have asked for. Those across the aisle here want to keep bleating and complaining.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! I can't hear the minister.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: This is something that the industry in the Riverland asked for.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Minister, sit down. I need to be able to hear the minister's answer. Listen in silence.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Those opposite obviously think that the producers who have called for this somehow are not well equipped to know what they want. They called for this blueprint. We have provided for it, and that is what we have provided. Perhaps if those opposite would like to be more involved in some of those discussions, they are welcome to. I noted the interjection from the Leader of the Opposition suggesting that I should spend more time in the Riverland.

The PRESIDENT: Interjections are out of order and so are songs.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Indeed. Interjections are out of order; however, I would point out how many times not only myself has been in the Riverland but—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —the entire Malinauskas Labor government. We have spent a great deal of time in the Riverland and have been very pleased to do so. Obviously, that is partly because of the issues around the floods but also to have the sorts of discussions that we have had around things like the glut of red wines. It does bring to mind my first visit to the Riverland, which was soon after the election, when I met with one of the local stakeholders in the Riverland—I won't name them or indicate which one it was—and they said, 'It is so good to see a minister'—

An honourable member: A member of the Labor Party?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: No, they certainly were not Labor Party supporters, I can tell you that. They said that the former Minister for Environment, the now opposition leader, had gone there once—once—and had met with them once in that entire time, in four years. So the current Leader of the Opposition in the other place was so interested in the Riverland—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Hanson, you are not helping.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —that in four years of government he met with this particular stakeholder once.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Once. That shows the true understanding—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Ms Girolamo!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —of those opposite.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Minister, please conclude your remarks so we can move on.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Okay. I believe I have said all that needs to be said.