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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-10-27 Daily Xml
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Barossa Country Cabinet

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (15:01): My question is to the Minister for Climate Change. Could the minister inform the chamber about the recent jobs forum held in the Barossa Valley during the country cabinet, and how the state government is working with the farming industry to ensure sustainable growth for the sector?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change) (15:01): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. From 18 to 21 October, state government ministers attended cabinet and other important meetings in the Barossa, a region that is renowned the world over for the quality of its food and wine. As part of this country cabinet visit, I initiated and attended a forum to discuss the changing nature of the agricultural sector and local employment opportunities. The participants who attended the meeting on Tuesday 20 October showed enormous initiative and innovation in areas such as viticulture, grazing, soil health and community-based environmental programs.

It is clear that there are many diverse challenges associated with the efforts of farmers to produce our valuable food in the face of impending climate change and coming to terms with the impacts of climate change on farming in the region. It is very important that we work together to address these challenges and ensure the viability and growth of this very important sector to our state.

That is why the government provides grant funding through the Sustainable Industry Grants Scheme to a number of primary producer groups in the northern part of the region, particularly to groups in the Barossa Valley and surrounding areas. This funding supports industry and community-driven projects which focus on a range of production and natural resource management issues confronting primary producers in the region.

Working together to innovatively address these issues helps to underpin farm viability, job security and sustainably produced food for our state. The great results achieved through these projects are being shared with the broader farming community through local newsletters, media and farm walks.

This work will complement the Barossa Regional Adaptation Plan that was launched in June 2015. This is one of the 12 innovative regional adaptation plans that will be finalised for each of our geographical regions by 2016, setting out a regionally driven approach to future climatic changes and the challenges they pose.

The Barossa plan was developed in collaboration with natural resources management boards, state and local government, regional development, emergency services management, industry and community service sectors. The priority areas identified in the plan include ensuring the region maintains its quality viticulture and agricultural production, ensuring sustainable water supplies into the future, maintaining biodiversity and natural habitats in the region, maintaining adequate community and emergency services, and supporting a strong rural business environment.

Having a regional adaptation plan will guide and assist the region to address the effects of climate change and, in doing so, identify new avenues and solutions through innovation and change. There is no doubt that climate change will bring challenges with projected sea level rise, increases in temperatures, declining average rainfall and exposure to severe weather events right across the state.

However, challenges also bring with them opportunities, and the secret really is to be prepared for those opportunities when they arise and to grab them. None of us can be complacent when it comes to the value and availability of our clean and natural resources and their importance in underpinning economic prosperity for the state. It was very encouraging to see the level of leadership and enthusiasm that I saw during the Barossa jobs forum. In particular, it was great to hear from Barossa Youth in Agriculture, Ms Georgie Keynes, about the fantastic work they are doing to engage and encourage young farmers and the particular challenges that they faced.

I would think like to sincerely thank all the participants, the entire community, for welcoming us to the Barossa, for showcasing their absolute commitment to this import region and its industries into the future, and for their desire to be ahead of the curve. I look forward to continuing to work together with these communities to ensure that farming enterprises remain profitable and grow and continue to drive economic growth and job opportunities for our state.

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