Drought Assistance

The Hon. M. EL DANNAWI (15:15): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Will the minister inform the chamber about the recent decision to waive fees for farmers seeking to import hay from interstate?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:16): I thank the honourable member for her question. As this chamber well knows, agriculture is a vital part of the South Australian economy and community and even though many of our farmers have done everything right to prepare for periods of little or no rainfall, they are still doing it incredibly tough during this drought.

As farmers from across South Australia look to various sources of feed for livestock, the Department of Primary Industries and Regions has been working closely with farmers and peak commodity groups such as Livestock SA and the South Australian Dairyfarmers' Association throughout this past week to identify and facilitate movement of hay from interstate into South Australia while still protecting our strong biosecurity system and ensuring that no additional cost is passed on to farmers.

In working to ensure farmers have efficient and safe movement of hay from interstate, it was raised with me about the biosecurity inspection fee that is applied to all inspections of all plant or plant-related products into South Australia. This fee has been in effect since the establishment of the Plant Health Act 2009. In recognition of the hardship being felt by many South Australian farmers, I asked PIRSA to implement a waiver system for the $167 hourly fee that is usually required for inspection of incoming fodder.

I note that the inspection is incredibly important as the check looks for signs of any pest, including such terrible pests as red imported fire ants or green snail. Red imported fire ants are one of the world's worst invasive species and have infested parts of New South Wales and Queensland and would have a devastating impact on South Australian agriculture should it ever establish itself here in our state. Green snail from certain areas of Western Australia and Victoria also pose a significant risk to our horticulture and grain producers. It is important that we remain vigilant to such a threat.

Biosecurity inspections are critical to protecting South Australia against these pests, which, if established, would have significant ongoing challenges for farmers at a time when they can least afford it—now—and would be suffering from for years to come. Biosecurity inspections will continue to occur but with no cost to drought-affected farmers. I am pleased to advise that rebates will be available for all inspection fees paid since November 2024 when our first drought package was announced.

PIRSA will continue to work with all charities and associations involved in bringing hay into the state through the Donated Fodder Transport Drought Assistance Scheme to ensure compliance with biosecurity regulations.

I want to take this opportunity to thank PIRSA's biosecurity division, along with Livestock SA and the South Australian Dairyfarmers' Association, for their hard work to ensure the speedy movement of hay into our state while still respecting and acknowledging the ongoing biosecurity challenges that must continue to be addressed.

While members opposite are moving self-congratulatory motions at their own state council and giving themselves a pat on the back for spreading misinformation about the drought and playing politics with it, we are getting on with the task of rolling out a comprehensive $73 million drought relief package and supporting our farmers now and into the future.