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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2018-05-16 Daily Xml
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Forestry Industry

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (14:35): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment on the forestry industry.

Leave granted.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: The Labor opposition believes the forestry industry is a crucial component of the state's economy, and especially important to regional South Australia. The Labor opposition has a dedicated portfolio for forestry in the shadow cabinet.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: In fact, in his last answer the minister referred to the minister in the other place and incorporated forestry, but he does not actually have such a portfolio. Before the last state election now Premier Marshall claimed that a government he led would back the regions. Why has your government downplayed the importance of forestry to our state by removing the forestry portfolio from the government's cabinet?

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) (14:36): Thank you, Mr President—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is on his feet.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: I thank the honourable member for her question. I do think it is a bit rich, given that somebody who represented her local town, the Hon. Rory McEwen, was minister for forests and was minister and local member when the sale of the forests was initiated by the Labor government. It is an asset that has taken more than a century to build. In fact, people like my mother used to have shares in SAPFOR (South Australian Perpetual Forests). It has been in this state's DNA and the government of the day decided to sell the forest—the Labor government. They sold it—they gave it away.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: You have to understand—my colleague the Hon. Rob Lucas, the Treasurer, spoke about the deal they did around the Lands Titles Office and on how this former government views business. You have an asset that has taken more than a century to build, and you sell it at the bottom of the market—you only get $630 million or $670 million. It's worth $1.5 billion. That's how smart you are! You give something away! It is unbelievable that you would give away the forest. It is a bit rich that the honourable—are you the deputy leader in the role here? You don't have a deputy leader?

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: You are not asking the questions.

The Hon. K.J. Maher: You're completely out of order.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: I apologise, Mr President. I was trying to make sure I addressed the member opposite with her correct title. I know the leader will need a number of deputies to help him. I know he will need a lot of assistance.

The Hon. C.M. Scriven: Minister for forests is one of my titles, unlike yourself.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: Minister? Oh, very presumptuous!

The Hon. R.I. Lucas: What arrogance.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: Very arrogant!

Members interjecting:

The Hon. C.M. Scriven: Shadow minister.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: I would like to finish off, if I may. Forestry is an important part of our state's economy, we do value it and we have valued it for pretty much the bit more than the 100 years that it has been there.

But I think it is a bit rich for the member opposite—because the minister's title is the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. When I went to school, forestry was a primary industry. We don't have the food, the wine, fisheries and all the other industries whinging that they are not in there—they are primary industries. I am not sure which education system the honourable member went through, but forestry was a primary industry and is still a primary industry. It is a primary concern to us that you sold it for $650 million or $670 million; in fact, you gave it away. It is an important industry and we will support it with a whole range of initiatives to make sure the industry continues to grow.

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