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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-10-15 Daily Xml
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Virtual Fencing

The Hon. S.L. GAME (14:43): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before directing a question without notice to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development regarding virtual fencing.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.L. GAME: Virtual fencing uses GPS-enabled collars on livestock to deliver sound, vibration and minor electric cues, creating boundaries that allow farmers to shift and monitor their animals without the need for physical fencing. Extensive trialling across Australia proved that this technology dramatically increases productivity, improves animal welfare and reduces labour and infrastructure costs. Virtual fencing is already being used in Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia, and will soon be used in Victoria and New South Wales.

The South Australian government Animal Welfare Act 2025 was passed on 20 February this year. One day earlier in this chamber, the minister made a commitment about the use of virtual fencing, promising the government would draft regulations once the bill had passed parliament and put them out for public consultation. Today, virtual fencing remains prohibited in South Australia. My questions to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development are:

1. Can the government guarantee South Australian farmers will have access to virtual fencing and virtual herding before the state election in March?

2. Is the government serious about helping the state's battling farmers, given it has had seven months to legalise this game changing technology and given the government's own drought hub spruiks the benefits of virtual fencing?

3. What does this ongoing delay say about the priority the government places on the survival and sustainability of South Australia's food producers?

4. Lastly, does this delay again underline that the survival and sustainability of South Australia's food producers are a low priority for this city-centric government?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:45): I thank the honourable member for her question, although it sounded like the sort of wording that those opposite usually use. That's not a compliment, but I am happy for the member to take it however she wishes. It is certainly the case that our government has made a commitment to introducing regulations that will enable virtual fencing. I notice that—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Would anyone like to listen to the answer? I think those opposite are being very disrespectful to the Hon. Ms Game. She has asked a question and yet they don't want to hear the answer.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Minister, just give your answer.

The Hon. H.M. Girolamo interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Ms Girolamo, listen.

The Hon. B.R. Hood interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: And the Hon. Ben Hood.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: As I was saying, it is certainly the case that this government has made a commitment to drafting regulations to enable virtual fencing. That is expected to be part of the regulations in regard to the Animal Welfare Act, which of course is under the purview of the Minister for Environment and Water. According to my advice, that drafting process is still underway.

It is worth noting that other places, such as New South Wales, which have made announcements about enabling virtual fencing are not as far progressed as we are in that regard; they have simply made an announcement. I think it is important that we have the best tools available for our farmers. This is something that I have had a keen interest in since becoming minister.

A number of trials and research projects were conducted at Struan Research Centre. Members may recall—I think I have discussed it in this place—that there was a slight interruption there because of the fires that occurred at Struan, but it is something that I have followed closely. I have already raised it with the new Minister for Environment in the other place and I look forward to being able to update the chamber further in the near future.

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