Vineyard Resting Rebate

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:27): It's outrageous, Mr President. I seek leave—

The PRESIDENT: The honourable Leader of the Opposition, do you want an early minute and head home? I'm not going to reward you, so play on.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Primary Industries, which she will hopefully answer, about the Vineyard Resting Rebate, but I doubt it.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: The Vineyard Resting Rebate scheme allowed subsidised access to ethephon for red wine grapegrowers to put their vines on production hold, opting out of the current vintage while maintaining optimal vine health during times of oversupply. The opposition have heard concerns from Riverland growers that this program has been discontinued due to low uptake in recent years but, given the continued and increasing oversupply challenges, wine industry experts expect higher grower uptake of the scheme this year, if it is to be made available. My question to their Minister for Primary Industries is: will the state government reopen the Vineyard Resting Rebate scheme in time for next harvest, and, if not, why not?

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Minister, try to compose yourself and give us an answer.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:30): I do think it is interesting that the honourable member's phone said that, because it certainly is reflective of so many questions that she asks here—she clearly doesn't understand. However, I am not sure she is sorry that she doesn't understand. I thank the honourable member for her question. She may recall, but perhaps again wasn't listening very closely, that earlier in this session I have talked about the ethephon trial and where it was at. I suggest she refers back to Hansard.