Flood Recovery Charity Soccer Match

The Hon. M. EL DANNAWI (14:37): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Will the minister inform the council about the upcoming charity soccer game being played at Coopers Stadium tomorrow night in support of regional South Australia?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:37): I thank the honourable member for her question and for her interest in regional South Australia. Members in this place may recall last year's charity soccer match between the state government and the agriculture industry held at Coopers Stadium in support of Riverland residents affected by floods, with a number of members in this place sticking on the boots to play in that game, including—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Minister, just hang on for a sec. Would the two leaders like to go out in the corridor and have a chat so that the rest of us can hear the question.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: I am sorry that those here weren't able to hear and be interested when I was talking about the Riverland and regional South Australia, so I will start again. Members in this place may recall last year's charity soccer match between the state government and the agriculture industry held at Coopers Stadium in support of Riverland and Murraylands residents affected by floods, with a number of members in this place sticking on the boots to play in that game, including the Leader of the Opposition in this place and the Hon. Justin Hanson.

On that day, the state government was victorious 5-2, with the event raising a significant amount of money for regional South Australia. I am delighted to confirm that the state government, Adelaide United and the South Australian Produce Market are once again joining forces to raise funds for our farmers and regional communities through Rural Business Support for game 2.0.

A state government versus industry team has once again been created for the game that will be held tomorrow evening and will act as a curtain-raiser to the Adelaide United versus Macarthur FC game, with our kick-off at 4.45pm. Adelaide United has partnered with the South Australian Produce Market, Foodland and Pick a Local, Pick SA!—together with BankSA and the state government—for the game, with all funds raised being collected by Rural Business Support, with the match expected to raise up to $100,000.

I am advised that the defending champions, the state government team, will have a range of players hitting the field, hopefully defending the title, including the member for Adelaide, Lucy Hood; the member for Waite, Catherine Hutchesson; and the member for Hartley, Vincent Tarzia. I hear the industry team will be extremely vigilant this year to any diving the member for Hartley apparently might try on, as he did last year. Those are the allegations, Mr President; I make no comment on their accuracy.

Luckily for the players' sake the length of the halves is 30 minutes each as opposed to the normal 45 minutes, which I am sure will assist players in keeping, may we say, some of their dignity. I note I personally am not playing. I am delighted to be involved in tossing the coin, but if it came to even managing 30 minutes I probably wouldn't make it, so I am happy to defer to those who can. Coaches for the two teams are Travis Dodd, who is an Adelaide United legend and a former first team player, along with Adrian Stenta, who is the current women's team coach.

Events like this only come together because of generous support from a range of organisations which are passionate about regional South Australia. I thank and congratulate Adelaide United Football Club, which has once again played a key role in organising this game, and also BankSA, Foodland, the South Australian Produce Market, Rural Business Support, 4 Ways Fresh Produce, Adelaide Venue Management, Agribusiness Recruitment, AUSVEG SA, Bache Bros, BiobiN, Costa, K-ROO, Livestock SA, Nutrien, Russo Produce, Thomas Foods International, South Australian Forest Products Association, Willowy Farming and Viterra all for their involvement in and support for this very important initiative.

Again, gates open at 4.30pm, with the game kicking off at 4.45pm and finishing just in time for the start of the Adelaide United game. I encourage members in this place to consider heading on down to Coopers Stadium tomorrow night, to consider donating to this worthy cause and to enjoy this double-header while also supporting a very wonderful event.