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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-03-03 Daily Xml
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CABINET MINISTERS

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE (15:21): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Leader of the Government questions regarding the ministerial reshuffle.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE: In the past 24 hours we have heard of the resignation of ministers Zollo and McEwen and this morning the appointment of Mr Michael O'Brien and Mr Tom Koutsantonis. I acknowledge the good work that minister Zollo did, particularly with emergency services and volunteers. In the media overnight, on Adelaidenow for instance, the Premier has been quoted as saying:

...it was up to Caucus whether or not Ms Zollo's replacement came from the Upper House, where the Government will be left with only two ministers if he or she comes from the Assembly.

The resignation of minister McEwen represents not only an opportunity to fill the portfolios of primary industries, agriculture, food and fisheries, and regional development but also his departure represents a significant lessening of country experience and representation around the cabinet table.

The latest ABS data shows that, out of a total population of 1.584 million in South Australia, 426,000 (some 27 per cent) of those live outside of Adelaide. I believe the Hon. Bernard Finnigan best represents country interests—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE: —but this time his chance has passed, as we now have new ministers sworn in. I note that, in talking about former minister McEwen, the Premier's media release yesterday stated that the minister was kept on into the government's second term 'because his contribution had been so outstanding' and that 'he has brought a different culture and regional perspective to cabinet'.

Family First has been so concerned about the nation's future in agriculture that it has been lobbying the federal government for a stimulus package for agriculture, because research shows that spending money at the base of the supply chain where there can be value-adding on that spending is the best way to stimulate an economy. Therefore, my questions are:

1. Did the minister have discussions with the Premier about the minister assuming the portfolio responsibility for primary industries, which he held admirably earlier?

2. Did the minister lobby for three ministers to be retained in the Legislative Council?

3. How will country South Australians be represented at the cabinet table after this reshuffle?

4. Will the new Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries support Family First's campaign for an urgent agricultural stimulus package?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (15:24): In relation to the latter question, that is a matter for my colleague in another place, but I am sure that the member for Colton will do a magnificent job as Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries.

While we are talking about stimulus packages, it should be recognised that a significant amount of that commonwealth package will be spent in regional areas. If one looks at the schools, every primary school under this package is entitled to a major piece of infrastructure and, because schools are so much smaller in local areas with smaller average school sizes, a disproportionately large number of those schools will be in regional areas. One would expect that a significantly disproportionate amount of that package will be spent in regional areas. The same would apply to the local government package as well. Of the 68 councils, a large number are in regional areas. I think that answers that.

In relation to the ministerial reshuffle, I thank the honourable member for acknowledging the work of the Hon. Carmel Zollo because she has done a great job in all her portfolios and, before that, as a parliamentary secretary.

In relation to the presence of ministers in this council, it is a matter for caucus, as the Premier has said, where ministers should reside. In fact, there is a view around that there should be no ministers in the upper house. Many people have put the view that, if this council is to perform as a proper house of review, maybe there should be no ministers at all in the council. Regardless of that, this government now has two ministers in the council, which was the case during the period from 2002 to 2005, and that is the decision of caucus.

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