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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, First Session (53-1)
2014-06-03 Daily Xml
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ForestrySA

Mr BELL (Mount Gambier) (15:09): My question is also to the Minister for Regional Development. Does the minister support the decision to make redundant 60 ForestrySA employees?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL (Mawson—Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Tourism, Minister for Recreation and Sport, Minister for Racing) (15:09): As the minister responsible for forests I will take that question . The member for Mount Gambier knows—I was on the phone to him—he was one of the first people I rang to advise of the decision last week. He also knows that we have to make ForestrySA more commercially viable, as we have 3½ years to go until the contract with OneFortyOne is to be renewed and we need to do everything we possibly can. The good news for the South-East—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

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

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: The good news for the South-East is that the forestry industry is very strong at the moment and that is very good for the people who are likely to put up their hand if they want to continue working in the industry. When I was down there a couple of months ago talking to haulage operators and harvester operators, they were crying out for more workers. It is good that the industry is going so well there.

I am optimistic about the future of the South-East. I know the member for Mount Gambier is, and we will do everything we can to work together, along with the rest of the community down there, to build jobs. There are 60 voluntary targeted separation packages that have been offered and from what I understand there are a lot of people who are working with ForestrySA who welcome those packages with open arms.

We are going to work on the wider industry down there to make sure that the forestry industry booms. We know the forecast for the next two years at least is very positive, as well, so we think we have a bright future there. In other portfolio areas I have responsibility for—tourism, agriculture, food and fisheries—we are also very optimistic that we can keep jobs growing down there. We are committed to all the regions of South Australia.

I know there had been some talk in recent years when the contract with OneFortyOne was being negotiated of pessimism about the South-East, but having been down there recently (and promising to be down there again in about five weeks), I know there are a lot of people who are quite optimistic about what is happening in the South-East.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Point of order, Mr Speaker.

The SPEAKER: Point of order, member for Stuart.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Mr Speaker, you have given the minister two minutes and I believe standing order 98 requires him to address the substance of the question. The question was very simple: does the Minister for Regional Development agree with the decision? I would like him to answer that question, please.

The SPEAKER: The point of order is frivolous, because it is the customary practice that any minister can answer the question and that is just what the Minister for Agriculture has done.

Mr GARDNER: Sir, the point of order 98 is still applicable. It was clearly debate that was being called by the member for Stuart.

The SPEAKER: I don't uphold the point of order. Member for Mackillop.

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