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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2024-03-05 Daily Xml
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Regional Mental Health Services

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:40): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development regarding regional mental health.

Leave granted.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Attorney-General and the Hon. Mr Wortley, listen in silence.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: It is widely recognised that the work done by the FaB mentors is extremely valuable and appreciated in the Riverland region. However, with the continuing stress faced by Riverland growers industry groups are concerned there could be a rapid escalation in the requirement for mental health support. We understand that industry and stakeholder groups have requested additional support in readiness for this likelihood, but they report that none appears forthcoming at this stage. I quote from one local: 'It feels like there is a tsunami on the horizon.' My questions to the minister are:

1. What preparations is the minister making for this tsunami?

2. What additional funding is she committing to mental health services in the Riverland?

3. Is the minister concerned about her federal colleague's cut to funding to Rural Business Support's Small Business Financial Counselling program at this critical time, given the flow-on effects of the wine grape industry on small businesses in the Riverland region?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:41): I thank the honourable member for her question. Certainly, it is the case that the very severe stresses that are being experienced at the moment in the Riverland—but, I might also add, in other wine areas—are placing a lot of stress and difficulty upon grapegrowers and others within the wine industry. The family and business support mentor program, often known as FaB, as well as the Rural Financial Counselling Service, has been mobilised in the Riverland to support grapegrowers and winemakers impacted by the current market conditions.

The Wine Grape Council of South Australia, the South Australian Wine Industry Association and PIRSA have produced a document outlining regional, state and federal government support available to grapegrowers and winemakers. The document outlines services available for business and financial support, as well as mental health and legal services available to grapegrowers. Incidentally, the document also outlines information on recent vineyard resting research, which may be of benefit to growers as well.

Wine Australia has introduced a new inland wine grape price dashboard, and this tool provides valuable information to support growers with their decision-making. I am also advised that a further $200,000 is being made available through the Rural Business Support Relief Fund to assist with immediate financial support for impacted wine grapegrowers across the state.

The relief fund is providing immediate grants to those eligible of up to $1,500 to cover day-to-day living costs such as electricity bills. That is in addition to the $200,000 that has been allocated to the rollout of recommendations in the Riverland wine blueprint. Other support is available in the form of the commonwealth's Farm Household Allowance. While some Riverland grapegrowers are already receiving this support, many more are potentially eligible, and I do urge all grapegrowers to reach out to the Rural Financial Counselling Service and the Department of Primary Industries and Regions' FaB mentors so that they can assist.

I am also advised that a further figure, $60,000 in contingency, has been released to Rural Business Support for additional resources to the wine industry. I think it is important to note that, in addition to the mental health issues which have been correctly raised, there are many other aspects that we have been addressing, to the extent that a state government can, as well as advocacy through our federal colleagues.

We know that the red wine issue is an issue for the Riverland, it is an issue for other grapegrowing areas in South Australia, it is an issue for other grapegrowing areas across the country and it is also part of the global oversupply in terms of red wine grapes, particularly cab sav and shiraz. These are issues which continue to be very challenging, and I would encourage all those who are able to work together to support opportunities to support our grapegrowers and look at future steps and directions that can be initiated to further support the industry.

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