Question Time

Sheep and Goat Electronic Identification

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:33): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development regarding sheep and goat electronic identification.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: Our livestock producers all around the state are calling for the Malinauskas government to stop hiding and to be transparent regarding details of the rollout of the electronic identification and what funding they will commit. Producers are asking for details to be provided before the end of the financial year to allow them to plan their business going forward. This is now very clearly a government-led initiative. All power has been taken away from industry bodies.

My question to the minister is: when is she going to provide clarity and certainty for the livestock industry and release details around the rollout and what funding is her government going to commit to the rollout?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:34): I thank the honourable member for her question; however, I don't accept the premise of her question where she refers to where the power is in this particular issue. This has always been industry led. It has been in place because of discussions and indeed plans that were in place under the former state Liberal government to be able to introduce EIDs, remembering of course that the purpose of electronic identification is to improve traceability, which is an important tool in our toolkit—

The Hon. N.J. Centofanti interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —in regard to making sure that South Australia's, and indeed Australia's, very important livestock industry—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —is able to mitigate the risks and the increased risks of emergency animal diseases and ensure that, in the event of an incursion, there is the ability to effectively and swiftly trace animals to be able to reduce the amount of exposure and also to be able to regain trade freedom once an incursion has been managed.

I have been very pleased to be working closely with industry associations, such as Livestock SA. They, of course, have a steering committee that has been undertaking work, which I have spoken about previously in this place, and they are continuing in stage 2 of that work. When there is more that is able to be announced, I will be happy to do so.