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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-10-28 Daily Xml
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Private Members' Statements

Private Members' Statements

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (15:39): I have always been concerned that the federal government's water buybacks prey on vulnerable irrigators in our regions, particularly in the Riverland. This week I was absolutely alarmed to learn that the floodgates are wide open for our small family farmers to be extorted through the federal government's water buyback scheme. Round 1 irrigators are still having their entitlements processed; meanwhile, round 2 is currently open but only for large water portfolios, and some are selling larger parcels for upwards of $10,000 per megalitre.

The small irrigators selling in a tough season are forced to take what they can get for their entitlement, to pay bills and put food on the table, and companies and large water holders are coming in and offering stressed growers thousands of dollars less for their government payout and then pocketing the difference. It is the big end of town preying on the small family farms, the majority of which are stressed wine grapegrowers, and it will continue to happen under the federal government if they do not process round 1 expressions of tender from the trust irrigators.

I sympathise with our growers wanting to sell their water for many reasons. I say to my irrigator food producers: please consider selling your water to your neighbour, or retaining it in the local distribution network within South Australia. If you have to sell, you can and you should get as much from the government as the big guys, but once that water is sold to the commonwealth it is gone forever for producing food.

Mr McBRIDE (MacKillop) (15:41): I rise today with a plea to our regional communities, a call to action that could save lives and protect property and our landscape. As we head into another bushfire danger season, we know all too well the power and devastation of bushfires. Between 2019 and 2022, the Keilira, Blackford, Avenue Range and Coles fires left deep scars across the electorate of MacKillop. Families were left devastated, farms and livelihoods destroyed and landscapes changed forever. At the Coles fire, CFS volunteer Louise Hincks paid the ultimate price when she was killed by a falling tree.

Today we face a serious challenge. Volunteer numbers are declining and, with another fire danger season fast approaching, this trend puts us all at risk. So I am asking—urging—anyone who can to consider joining the CFS. Let's honour the legacy of those who served before us. Let's ensure our towns and rural areas are prepared. Let's make sure that, when the next fire comes, we are not short of the brave volunteers who make all the difference. Thank you, and please consider putting your hand up for the CFS.

Mrs HURN (Schubert) (15:42): It goes without saying that local businesses really are the backbone of our regional communities. They employ locals and they really add to the sense of vibrancy that we see in main streets, and that is particularly evident in communities right across my electorate of Schubert.

I rise today because I want to put under the microscope and shine a light on some of the struggles that some local businesses in Gumeracha have spoken about publicly, in particular the hardworking and really amazing Jessie from Peregrine in the main street of Gumeracha. Jessie took to social media to share some of the challenges that she is facing when it comes to keeping the doors of this local business open. She spoke about rising costs, she spoke about there being less foot traffic in the main street of Gumeracha, and she also shared that business is down some 60 per cent. This is obviously pretty devastating for local businesses like Jessie's, and also for Mell Penno from the Big Rocking Horse and a couple of others from around the Adelaide Hills.

So I really want to use this as an opportunity to encourage people to support local businesses as much as they possibly can, particularly as we are heading into the Christmas period. Every single dollar that you spend in a local small business matters, so I encourage people to not just use words of encouragement to back our local businesses but set foot into these local establishments and support them as much as you can, because they really do need it.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light) (15:44): On Saturday I had the good fortune of attending the annual Kapunda and Light Agricultural Show. I would like to put on the record that I thank all the sponsors, volunteers and committee members; without their hard work and commitment shows like this do not happen.

I would also like to acknowledge the president, Douglas Hazel; the vice-president, Mrs Janet Hazel; secretaries Ms Tess Gerhardy and Ms Crystal Hall; and treasurer, Mrs Stephanie Bishop. I would like to also acknowledge the trade section coordinator, Mr Bradley Haylock, as I had a stall at the event and he was very helpful in trying to make sure my stall was a success on the day. I could talk a lot about this show, but I will use the words of the president himself when he described the show because I think he does capture, if you like, the spirit of the show:

Each year, the show brings together the heart and soul of our community, from the tireless volunteers and passionate exhibitors, to the families who've made this a cherished annual outing. Agriculture remains the backbone of our region, and this show is a celebration of that legacy. It's where innovation meets tradition, and where young minds can be inspired by the possibilities that rural life has to offer.

I certainly saw all these things on Saturday. It is a great testament to that community that they can actually hold an annual show. Certainly, I enjoyed the opportunity to engage with a whole range of people on the day despite the weather.

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