Sheep and Goat Electronic Identification

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (15:17): Supplementary: why is it that cattle farmers in South Australia are the only farmers paying a $1.50 levy towards the NLIS program?

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:17): I thank the honourable member for her supplementary question. I am assuming that the President is accepting that it does have some link—

The Hon. N.J. Centofanti: I said 'NLIS'.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —because I said 'NLIS'. I think it's really important, as I have indicated also to other industry partners, that when we are looking at any particular cost-recovery process, or indeed rebates, all sorts of investments that are made by industry and by government, that we do look holistically at what they are. As some members will be aware, there was concern raised that perhaps with the NLIS there were different circumstances and arrangements compared to other jurisdictions.

There are many different circumstances and arrangements compared to other jurisdictions, including with NLIS. All of the other jurisdictions do not apply funding arrangements in the same way. That's why I committed to Livestock SA to work with them in a constructive manner and I am pleased to say Livestock SA is always very open to working in partnership with government to look at the various investments the government makes in terms of the industry.

For example, if we are trying to compare apples with apples, we realise that we actually can't; for example, South Australia puts in considerable funds to the dog fence, which of course is something the other jurisdictions do not. That is of considerable assistance to the livestock industry and is something that I personally am very committed to. So in terms of trying to compare, we need to look holistically at the various assistance that is provided. Certainly, the feedback that I have had from industry—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —is that they have appreciated the many new investments that the Malinauskas Labor government has made into the industry and I look forward to the outcome of that further analysis.