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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-06-05 Daily Xml
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REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (15:09): I seek leave to ask the Minister for Regional Development and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries a question regarding regional South Australia.

Leave granted.

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: The South Australian government is committed to primary industries in our regional communities.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Members to my right will come to order and the Hon. Mr Ridgway won't get excited. Just relax; we're almost there. The Hon. Mrs Zollo, what were you saying?

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: I was saying that, as we would all be aware, the South Australian government is committed to primary industries in our regional communities. Can the minister advise us of the details of her recent visit to Roseworthy and Gawler?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (15:10): I thank the honourable member for her most important question. As Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries and Minister for Regional Development I am always very pleased to be able to visit the regions and see how the South Australian government is supporting growth and industry in these areas. The Roseworthy campus certainly has a proud history as a centre for dryland agriculture, natural resource utilisation, pasture improvement and animal reproduction, genetics and production. The campus also accommodates the University of Adelaide School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences.

Roseworthy was the first place to offer agricultural education in Australia in 1883, which is astounding. Since 2008 the state government has contributed approximately $5 million to support new infrastructure developments on the site. I was very pleased to visit there recently and meet with Professor Simon Maddocks, SARDI Director of Science Partnerships, and Professor Iain Reid, Executive Dean at the Roseworthy campus, and tour the facilities. I heard about some of the really fascinating ground-breaking innovations undertaken by SARDI and the University of Adelaide.

I heard from Professor Paul Hughes, the senior pig research scientist with SARDI, who spoke about how their research ties in with SARDI's commitment to assist South Australian pork producers to remain financially viable in a changing marketplace, and to do this their research focuses primarily on two broad themes—housing and welfare and new genotypes.

The research on housing and welfare is studying the effect that confinement-free housing has on pig interaction and behaviour, and it explores the outcome of introducing various pen structures, such as specific mixing pens and environmental enrichment strategies, which is code for giving the pigs something to do. Research has also been undertaken on the interesting concept of porcine-appeasing pheromones, which reduce aggression and anxiety.

The other key focus of the research is on new pig genotypes. Major changes have occurred in the genetics of pigs in recent years, including the selection of hyperprolific genetics. This means that the nutrition and management of these pigs must alter to reflect their changed genetic requirements. Research in this area focuses on pregnancy, with particular interest in pregnancy rates, nutritional needs during pregnancy, litter size and piglet mortality. There is also research interest in seasonal infertility and reducing lameness in sows.

Roseworthy is also a base for work on poultry. Professor Maddocks informed me that currently research in this area is focusing on nutrition and gut health. I was intrigued to hear about some of the early developments regarding the introduction of omega 3 to poultry food supply, which may result in health benefits not only for the birds but also for consumers.

Following this, I also enjoyed a tour through the veterinary health centre and the aquatic biosecurity centre, both state-of-the-art facilities. I was very impressed with the quality and breadth of services undertaken by both these facilities. Having done my honours thesis on investigating the inferior colliculus of cats, I was absolutely impressed to tour the veterinary diagnostic laboratory that forms part of the health centre and view the teaching laboratories there. They were truly remarkable facilities, and I would have loved as a student to have had that quality of facility at my fingertips.

The Aquatic Biosecurity Centre was also an amazing $2.4 million facility, funded by the South Australian government through Marine Innovation SA. It has six huge 5,000-litre tanks, with room for more to be installed, so they can research marine pests and diseases on a scale that has not previously been available and certainly position South Australia to become one of the major national providers of aquatic biosecurity research.

I visited the Turretfield Research Centre, which has a focus on reproductive biology research and pastoral research and is a research centre to advance the technical skills of consultants, professional associations and other educational agencies. Located at the centre is the SARDI Animal Reproduction Group. The group is focused on providing innovative research capabilities in reproduction for sheep and cattle to enhance the genetic improvement program, breeding efficiency and animal welfare. They have also been doing some fabulous work looking at Huntington's disease, which is a terrible genetic disease which has diabolical consequences not only for the person with the disease but for family members as well, so we look forward to seeing that work progress.

As part of our premium food and wine from a clean environment, I have already talked in this place about our fabulous achievements, particularly in our agriculture and food sectors, and how we were able to progress on the targets that we have set for ourselves. The Hon. David Ridgway gave me an opportunity to provide some valuable information on our achievements.

I have been advised that the consumer and market innovation centre that was to be based at the SA Food Centre Regency Park was a commitment that was given, I believe, in 2010. There was an intention to develop a centre; however, I am advised that the decision was later made to allocate those intended funds to Food SA and to the South Australian Wine Industry Council. Of course, they are both areas that contribute significantly to our food and wine facilities. There have been many achievements on our premium food and wine front:

the signing of the MOU with the Fujian agriculture department;

the group of business leaders from that province looking to create markets and strong trade links here;

funds that this government has provided to establish the Artisan Cheese Making Academy—our first Artisan Cheese Making Academy;

the development of a new certification scheme for our farmers markets;

our 'buy local' campaign; and

our regional and seasonal events programs.

As I said, there are many achievements for us to list.

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