Country Cabinet

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (14:32): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Will the minister update the chamber about last week's country cabinet in Victoria—I mean Victor Harbor—Goolwa and the Fleurieu?

Members interjecting:

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: It's a Specsavers moment.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Minister, are you going to confess that we have taken over part of Victoria?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:33): If only we could. If only we could, I think that would be a great thing. The Green Triangle could become part of South Australia, perhaps. I would like to thank the honourable member for his question and his interest in the country cabinet, which I think is shared by all on this side of the chamber. Unfortunately, it is not shared by those opposite.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: I am sure the Hon. Mr Simms shares his interest in country cabinet. I was only talking about those opposite, not those diagonally opposite. I think it is very clear that those opposite are not interested in country cabinet. Their government previously, when they were under the Marshall Liberal government, abandoned country cabinet, and no doubt that was part of why regional South Australia felt abandoned by the then Liberal government.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Minister, please continue.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: It is great to be able to talk about another useful and informative country cabinet, this time in Victor Harbor, Goolwa and the Fleurieu region. One of the many things that I do love about my portfolio is the diversity of the sectors and the industries, and that was certainly true in terms of what was represented in last week's country cabinet, which highlighted a range of agriculture, fisheries and forestry activities that occur in that part of the state.

My country cabinet began with a stop at Kuitpo to look at the exciting developments across the forest, including the magnificent tree climb experiences that were completed last year, and the wonderful modern, and some not so modern and indeed rustic, accommodation options available to those who want to immerse themselves in the beauty of the forest.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: I wish I did. It certainly is a place that is already special to many South Australian families and, with the recent additions, more and more people will be able to experience Kuitpo like never before. The next stop was Nangkita Dairies run by the Connor family. Nangkita utilised funding under the LUP scheme to install an underpass on the farm, and with the underpass were then able to install a multimillion-dollar robotic dairy, which is actually quite incredible to see in action, because the cows are milked voluntarily.

They have the robotic system, which has provided a range of improved data and efficiency to the Connors in running the farm, but I think they stated that the biggest benefit must surely be the incredibly happy and productive cows who are voluntarily milked; I am advised some of them up to four times a day, most two to three times a day. But hearing about this system and how the cows behave in an environment where they have some autonomy and choice was quite incredible. Their inclination, as told to us by the farmers, is to go and get milked amongst their friendship groupings, and the shyer cows choose to be milked in the middle of the night when not many others are doing the same. It was quite fascinating and, dare I say, a moving insight into modern dairy farming—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —and what the future holds. Moving right along, next up was a trip to Goolwa Beach to catch up with RecFish SA about the increase in recreational bag limits for Goolwa pipi. From 1 November, when the new season opens, recreational anglers will have the benefit of a 10 per cent increase in the bag limit for pipi; a limit of 330, up from 300. In an environment where it might often seem that bag limit increases are a thing of the past, it is important that, where science says modest increases are not a threat to sustainability, we are able to balance the desire for recreational access with the need for sustainability of our marine species.

On Thursday night, a huge standing room only crowd packed into Encounter Bay Football Club to hear from the Premier and cabinet ministers, with community members asking a range of great questions with a wide range of topics covered. On Friday morning, it was a pleasure to be part of the strategic cabinet meeting with Victor Harbor, Yankalilla and Alexandrina councils to discuss the challenges and opportunities the region faces, similar to so many regions in terms of managing growth and balancing the preservation of its identity, as well as unique challenges the region faces in terms of the availability of longer term accommodation given the high number of short-term holiday rentals.

To finish, it was actually good to see Mr David Basham, the member for Finniss, in attendance at the community forum. We don't often see Liberal MPs attend country cabinet forums when in their electorates—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —and I am sure he would have reported back positively to his party room on the community engagement that can be achieved when you turn up in the regions and you hear directly from regional people.