Drought Assistance

The Hon. L.A. HENDERSON (15:22): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Primary Industries on the topic of drought.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.A. Simms: Good luck getting an answer.

The Hon. L.A. HENDERSON: I will try my best, the Hon. Mr Simms. The opposition has recently called on the state Labor government, subject to the required reserve or carryover for future years, to consider utilising any unused water allocation that will be lost by the end of June and make it available through regional reservoirs to allow farmers to pump water for stock purposes or provide farmers with leased water to grow fodder in South Australia. My questions to the minister are:

1. Does she support the opposition's calls to ensure farmers and farming communities have access to this water to help keep breeding stock alive through stock water and for growth of much needed fodder?

2. Has she or will she advocate to the Minister for Water and Environment to consider the proposal and, if not, why not?

3. Why isn't the government making every effort to supply any available water to farmers and farming communities to enable them and their livestock to survive what has been described as the driest years on record?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:23): I thank the honourable member for her question. It is certainly true that many parts of our state are experiencing the driest period on record, and records have been kept for a very long time. The Liberals have put out a media release with a very vague proposal. I heard the shadow minister for primary industries on the radio, I think it was yesterday, being asked: 'What specifically does this mean? Can you explain what you are actually talking about?' She went on to restate the problem.

I am all for acknowledging the problem of drought, it affecting so much of our primary industries, yet this general vague call really needs a little bit more behind it. It is a very general vague call—even the honourable member who asked the question clearly didn't seem to understand the question she was asking.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: I won't, on the basis of truth. You were tripping over and you didn't seem to understand what you were actually asking. Any opportunity to assist our farmers is something our government will be considering.