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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-11-30 Daily Xml
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Limestone Coast

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (14:41): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Will the minister inform the chamber about how the government has supported growth and service delivery in the Limestone Coast region since the election, bearing in mind we only have 40 minutes left of question time.

The PRESIDENT: The minister knows that Dorothy Dixers don't go for more than four to five minutes.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:42): I am not quite sure where these interjections and suggestions are coming from or why. I am more than happy to talk about the government's record, because in only our first 20 months in office, we have been supporting growth and community wellbeing in the Limestone Coast region, something that those opposite did little or nothing about in their four years in government.

While those opposite have been spending time working on their new logo—which I am sure will deliver great things for the people of South Australia and make a real impact on the issues that matter—while they have been doing that, we have been getting on with the job. I love it: #LogosMatter. I think that's a great summary of what those opposite have been spending their time on.

However, we have been getting on with the job. Indeed, within 72 hours of being elected, Premier Peter Malinauskas visited Mount Gambier to demonstrate the importance of the Limestone Coast to the economic and social fabric of the state. I will remind the opposition—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —again that it was in Mount Gambier that our government reconvened country cabinet for the first time in June last year, that highly anticipated—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —and useful forum to connect with regional communities, that very same forum which those opposite treat with disdain and reject. I was asked about how the government is supporting growth in the Limestone Coast. As alluded to, when the honourable member made reference to the fact that we only have 40 minutes, the list is long; the list is very long.

The PRESIDENT: You have about two more minutes.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: I will try to cover off on all of the aspects in the time that I have. The list will continue to grow. We are developing a $59 million Mount Gambier research, education and training precinct, bringing together a new purpose-built technical college and an upgraded TAFE, the Mount Gambier campus, as well as the new Forestry Centre of Excellence.

We have moved quickly to build houses in Mount Gambier for government-employed workers in health, education and the South Australian police force, through the Regional Key Worker Housing Scheme, to encourage the filling of key roles and free up private rentals, in addition to new public housing dwellings, four of which are already built in Mount Gambier.

We have worked collaboratively with the Tatiara District Council to expand the program and build a further five houses in Bordertown for the key worker scheme and contribute to the civil works to support the construction of up to 60 more houses to facilitate business growth in the township and surrounding region.

We have committed to a $5½ million co-investment contribution in a Telstra project, which is currently before the commonwealth government's Regional Connectivity Program. This project, if supported by the commonwealth, will enable the delivery of 27 new mobile stations and adds 2,400 square kilometres of new 4G coverage to the region, improving connectivity for homes, businesses, primary producers and for emergency situations.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: We have established the office of the Cross Border Commissioner in Mount Gambier, which is investigating and advocating on regulatory and service delivery issues that adversely impact cross-border communities. I hear from the Hon. Ben Hood across the chamber here and it reminds me—

The PRESIDENT: Interjections are out of order.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: I won't refer again to his interjections, but I will refer to the fact that I am reminded of an opinion piece in The Border Watch written by the Hon. Ben Hood that unfortunately reveals the type of divisive politics which, quite frankly, most of the community are just plain sick of. It contains a litany of accusations that he knows to be false. The honourable member might do well to take a leaf out of the books of the independent members for Mount Gambier and MacKillop, who have been very active in effectively advocating on behalf of their constituents across several issues—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —including regional housing, education—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order, both sides!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —health and regional connectivity. The record of the previous Liberal government in the Limestone Coast, quite frankly, was dismal. They did nothing to deal with the housing crisis, they did nothing to improve services in Mount Gambier and at the last election they had next to no election policies whatsoever for the Limestone Coast. In fact, when the Hon. Ben Hood was the Liberal candidate for Mount Gambier, I remember vividly being at a forum in which he had no policies to offer for the Limestone Coast.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: His answer to the majority of the questions was that he would bang the table—he would bang the table.

The Hon. R.A. SIMMS: Point of order: it is relating to relevance. Is this going to wrap up anytime soon? I think some of us would like to actually ask a question.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Minister, conclude. You have had more than enough for your Dorothy Dixer.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: I appreciate that, Mr President, and I will do so. It is disappointing because there are so many more lists of things that we are doing in the Limestone Coast and in particular I would like the opportunity to rebut the falsehoods that were in the article I referred to. Anyway, while those opposite are designing logos and banging the table, our government has been getting on with the job to support the Limestone Coast.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Hood, you have a supplementary question?

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