Legislative Council Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1) 55 1 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Question Time Drought Assistance Drought Assistance The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI Legislative Council Drought Assistance The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:20): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing questions to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development regarding drought assistance for South Australian farmers. Leave granted. The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI Legislative Council The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: For well over a year, South Australian farmers, peak industry bodies and the opposition have been calling on the government to provide no and low-interest concessional loans to assist drought-affected primary producers. These loans, described by farmers as a hand up, not a handout, are a proven mechanism used by state governments across Australia to help producers manage cashflow pressures and recover from prolonged dry conditions. It is understood that the minister received formal departmental advice more than eight weeks ago, outlining options for such a scheme, yet to date no decision has been announced and no funding committed. Meanwhile, conditions across much of the state continue to deteriorate, with many farm businesses facing mounting debt and difficult decisions ahead of summer. So my questions to the minister are: 1.	Can the minister confirm whether she has received advice from her department on the implementation of a no and low-interest concessional loan scheme for drought-affected farmers? If so, when was that advice provided? 2.	Why, after more than eight weeks since receiving departmental advice, has the government still not made a decision or commitment to implement a concessional loans program? 3.	Does the minister accept that the absence of such a program is leaving drought-affected farmers without an essential financial safety net as they face rising costs and declining productivity? 4.	Will the minister commit today to introducing a state-based concessional loan scheme? 5.	Finally, given the urgency of the situation and the government's repeated claims of being drought ready, can the minister explain what is holding up cabinet approval for the measures that farmers have been calling for consistently for more than 12 months? The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN Legislative Council Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister for Forest Industries The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:22): I thank the honourable member for her question. Throughout this period of drought, which has been so difficult for so many farmers—indeed, farmers in some regions are looking at their third year of drought and potentially going into their fourth year—I have met with farmers, obviously throughout the state, as well as their representative bodies. I have continued to have information provided to me about loan products available elsewhere, and I have ongoing information and briefings coming to me at various intervals.