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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-03-21 Daily Xml
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AGRICULTURE SECTOR

Mr MARSHALL (Norwood—Leader of the Opposition) (14:19): My question is to the Premier. Why have more than 14,000 agricultural jobs been lost in the last 12 months, given that premium food and wine are one of the government's four pillars in its economic statement?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Treasurer, Minister for State Development, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for the Arts) (14:20): Once again, if the honourable member took the time to read the economic statement rather than just glancing at its cover he would realise that one of the great success stories has actually been the agricultural sector and indeed—

Ms Chapman: Despite you.

The SPEAKER: The deputy leader is warned for the first time. Premier.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: —the food sector in the South Australian economy. The great strength of the South Australian economy has traditionally been its agriculture and food sector, but the truth is that it is a sector which is under threat, because in a comparative sense the high Australian dollar and a high cost environment create challenges for our competitiveness. What the economic statement does is make this challenge. It makes this challenge that we have to go up to the premium end of this market and we have to use some of the burdens associated with our higher cost; we have to turn them into an advantage.

We actually have to challenge ourselves not to reduce those standards and say we will give away the standards associated with our good environmental protection, the standards associated with ensuring that we have good wages and good biosecurity protection. All those things that carve us out and give us a niche should be promoted in a world where food integrity is going to be an increasingly important issue. I make this confident prediction, that we will soon be marketing our seafood as having been grown in marine parks. We will also be marketing our food produce—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Will the Premier be seated. The leader is warned for the second time; the member for Hammond is warned for the first time; the deputy leader is warned for the second time; and the member for Morialta is called to order. Premier.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: I am simply trying to make a few helpful points about the South Australian economy and assist the member to understand, because he posed a question. He poses questions and then gets very angry, for no obvious reason. I do not understand it.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: I've seen that behaviour before—Mark Latham.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: That's right, we have seen that behaviour before. In any event, can I say this, that we will also be marketing our food produce as having been produced within those natural environments which respect our environment, and that will be another very important selling point as we seek to project ourselves to the world. It is not everywhere that can say they have clean soil, clean air and clean water. We can say that in this state. It is because we have respected our natural environment. We have invested in ensuring that we have the highest standards.

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