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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-09-06 Daily Xml
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JAMESTOWN PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND REGIONS OFFICE

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (15:16): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries a question about the possible closure of a Primary Industries and Regions SA office in the Mid North.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS: My colleagues in the other place—the members for Hammond and Stuart respectively—have had recent contact with a number of members of the Upper North Farming Systems Group. They are concerned about the possible closure of the PIRSA office in Jamestown and a subsequent transfer of office operations to Clare.

When examining the state budget for 2012-13, it is alarming to see a reduction in rural services funding of $1.3 million. The Upper North Farming Systems Group has a membership base of approximately 100 farmers from Peterborough, Quorn, Craddock, Wandearah, Morchard, Pekina, Booleroo Centre and beyond. The group has been established for 12 years and is affiliated with the Low Rainfall Association. Of high concern to this group is the work of Rural Solutions, a service of PIRSA that plays an intricate role with the Upper North farms, particularly in the project trials that are managed throughout the low rainfall districts.

At present, it is convenient for staff to call out to a trial site when they have a couple of hours spare to check on the progress of the trial. However, if the proposed change takes effect and operations shift to Clare, staff will find themselves some 74 kilometres further away from the trial sites, substantially increasing transit time and making practical checks on trial progress increasingly difficult. It is also important to note that, in contrast to the location of PIRSA's current office in Jamestown, the proposed alternative location of Clare is in a high rainfall district. My questions are:

1. Will the minister confirm whether the government is intending to close the PIRSA office in Jamestown and relocate its office operations to Clare?

2. Will the minister explain what rural services were slashed in order for $1.3 million to be cut from the budget?

3. What assurances can the minister give the Upper North Farming Systems Group and other similar groups that PIRSA will continue to provide adequate, timely and effective support through Rural Solutions to projects in the lower rainfall districts?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the Status of Women) (15:19): I thank the honourable member for his important questions. As I have put on the record in this place before, budget savings were required across all agencies over a number of years, and that has also included PIRSA. We have just been through a very rigorous estimates session and budget session where the details about those budget savings were made available, so I refer the honourable member to those documents for specific details.

However, in general terms, what PIRSA has tried to do—and other agencies as well—is to deliver those savings to areas that are not front-of-counter services or direct customer services. We have attempted to do things like reduce duplication and other inefficiencies and deliver the savings that way.

The Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins: Can you rule out the closure of the Jamestown office?

The PRESIDENT: I am sure the minister will get there. Be patient.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: In terms of the delivery of regional services, PIRSA obviously delivers a range of services to South Australia's primary producers through a network of district offices and research centres. Services are funded by state appropriation, industry funds or a commercial fee for service, such as in the case of Rural Solutions. The bringing together of the regional development portfolio with other portfolios is one of those important synergies that we have been able to achieve. This new agency enables—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: —the bringing together of a range of complementary expertise.

The Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins: I would like to hear the answer.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Well, listen. Why don't you just be quiet and listen?

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: I am giving you an answer. In addition, there are key regional hubs for PIRSA. They are in Port Lincoln, Clare, Loxton, Lenswood and Mount Gambier. This means that services across each of those regions will be coordinated from those hubs. I have been advised that each of those hubs will maintain a front-counter service, provide licensing transactions, facilities for meetings and video conferencing, and general administrative services. I have been advised that those key regional hubs, including the one at Clare, will continue—that is to the best of my knowledge.

The Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins: What about Jamestown? Jamestown is going?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: I do not have any information on Jamestown. I am not aware of any changes but I am happy to take that on notice and bring back any further information that might be relevant to answer the member's questions.

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