Primary Industries and Regions Department

442 The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) ().19 August 2025).

1. In regard to Primary Industries, Regional Development, Thriving Regions Fund (Budget Paper 3, page 98 or Budget Paper 4, Volume 4, page 61): Is the $2 million allocated for the Regional Leadership Development Program delivered through the RDAs—part of the broader $15 million thriving regions commitment, or is it in addition to that amount?

2. In regard to Primary Industries, Regional Development, regional development programs (Budget Paper 3, page 98 or Budget Paper 4, Volume 4, page 61): In the previous government's budget 2018-19, funding for the Regional Development Australia boards were a separate line item to the Regional Growth Fund. Can the minister confirm which funding stream is being used to cover the cost of Regional Development Australia? Is it a separate line, or is the $3 million ongoing funding for Regional Development Australia coming out of the Thriving Regions Fund?

3. In regard to Primary Industries, Regional Development, regional economic drivers (Budget Paper 3, page 104 or Budget Paper 4, Volume 4, page 56): Can the minister explain what the replacement recreational fishing management plan will entail and whether it will include mandatory app-based reporting of any future recreational catch?

4. In regard to Primary Industries, Regional Development, regional economic drivers (Budget Paper 3, page 103):

(a) What is the total estimated cost of the South Australian climate resilience discovery farms and innovator sites projects?

(b) Can the minister detail the specific regions or locations where these projects are expected to be established?

5. In regard to Primary Industries, Regional Development, mobile blackspot funding (Budget Paper 3, page 98 or Budget Paper 4, Volume 4, page 56):

(a) How much funding was provided by the state government through the mobile blackspot funding in 2024-25?

(b) How much finding was provided by the commonwealth government through the mobile blackspot funding in 2024-25?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries): I am advised:

1. The $2 million allocated for the Regional Leadership Development Program delivered through the RDAs is part of the broader $15 million Thriving Regions Fund commitment.

2. The $3 million ongoing funding for Regional Development Australia does not come from the Thriving Regions Fund and remains a separate funding line item.

3. A new draft management plan for recreational fishing in South Australia is currently being developed by the Department of Primary industries and Regions (PIRSA) under the guidance of a stakeholder working group, consisting of representatives from the recreational and commercial fishing sectors, including RecFish SA. The development of the new plan follows a review of the current management plan.

While reporting of snapper in the South East will remain mandatory, PIRSA will begin implementation of voluntary catch and effort reporting for the recreational fishing sector with the roll out of the new SA Fishing App.

4.

(a) The total project cost is approximately $11.7 million over four years and is comprised of:

Commonwealth Government Future Drought Fund—$8 million.

PIRSA—$1 million from University Affiliate partnership funds, $646,000 in kind.

Flinders University—$280,000 cash, $586,000 in kind.

Remaining in kind and cash (~$1.2 million) from other project partners (40 partners in total).

(b) There are 43 sites across the low, medium and high rainfall zones of the state including the pastoral, Eyre Peninsula, Mid North, Yorke Peninsula, Murray Mallee, Riverland, South East, Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island regions.

5.

(a) In 2024-25, $0.63 million was committed by the state government through the mobile blackspot funding to the Telstra South East SA Project.

(b) The commonwealth government in 2024-25 committed through the Regional Connectivity Program round 3 $15,365,109 towards the Telstra South East SA Project. Other funding commitments are available through the relevant commonwealth government website.