Question Time

Drought Assistance

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:33): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question to the Minister for Primary Industries regarding the drought.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: The Prime Minister travelled to South Australia yesterday for a whole two hours to visit drought-stricken farmers on the Adelaide Plains, where he announced just $2 million funding for financial counselling and the location of a drought forum. The Minister for Primary Industries posted about this visit. I note several commentators beneath that post believe the Prime Minister's visit to not be genuine and the announcement to be pitiful. One farmer from the Mallee posted, and I quote:

A visit that achieved nothing of substance or useful action for farmers who need it the most. Does counselling help feed & water stock, does it pay the bills or put food on the table.

It would be really nice if our leaders listened to what farmers actually need.

My questions to the minister are:

1. As the leader of the Malinauskas state government for primary industries, will she listen to the voices on her own Facebook page and do what farmers actually need, which is access to funding through things like no and low-interest concessional loans to help pay bills and put food on the table?

2. Does the minister believe the Prime Minister's announcement is appropriate given the extremely dire conditions being faced by farming communities in our regions?

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. Many farmers have been calling for the Prime Minister to visit South Australia, and the fact that he has done so within a relatively short time of the recent election is a positive step.

I note that last week the federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Hon. Julie Collins, also visited South Australia. She visited a number of farms on Wednesday of last week and on Thursday she and I went on farm, but she also addressed the industry forum arranged by PIRSA, with about 250 attendees, all of whom are involved in some way in primary industries.

I was also very pleased that Minister Collins co-hosted a round table with me of all the commodity groups, representing all the primary production sectors in the state. They had a lot to say about the drought, about what they were looking for, and the impacts on both their commodities and their regions. This is a positive step forward.

I also note that yesterday the Prime Minister said that it was clear that more support would be needed. I look forward to continuing to advocate to the federal government and continuing to work with the federal government to be able to deliver more for South Australian farmers.