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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-11-25 Daily Xml
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Primary Industries and Regions Department

440 The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) ().19 August 2025).

1. In regard to the budget for PIRSA (Budget Paper 3, page 23): why are administered items FTEs not included in the agency program information? (BP4, page 51) (workforce summary)

2. In regard to replacement of the coastal research vessel (Budget Paper 4, Volume 4, page 58):

(a) When will the vessel be purchased and delivered?

(b) What is wrong with the existing vessel?

(c) Did the minister consult with fishing industry prior to announcing the investment?

(d) If not, why not?

(e) If yes, what was their feedback on the investment?

3. In regard to operating initiatives, tomato brown rugose virus (Budget Paper 5, page 60, Budget Paper 4, Volume 4, page 58):

(a) Can the minister outline to the chamber what she is doing to ensure that there are equitable market access agreements across jurisdictions?

(b) Are South Australian producers still having to test to ensure market access for other states such as QLD and WA?

(c) What are we doing as a state jurisdiction to ensure that produce and plants being brought into South Australia from QLD and WA have undergone the same stringent testing process?

(d) Has the minister raised this issue with her interstate ministerial colleagues?

4. In regard to operating initiatives (Budget Paper 5, page 59-60):

(a) Why does the Malinauskas government only have one new program, outside of ongoing biosecurity investment, under operating initiatives?

(b) Does the minister think this is sufficient?

(c) Does the minister think that any other programs are necessary?

5. In regard to workforce summary (Budget Paper 4, Volume 4, page 51):

(a) Why was there a decrease in FTE in the department from financial year 2025-26 (863.3) to that which is estimated for 2024-25 (903.3)?

(b) Of the decreased number of FTE's, how many are in frontline service roles?

(c) How many of the FTE positions for 2024-25 were based in a regional town or centre?

6. In regard to upgrade of the SA Aquatic Sciences Centre:

(a) Has the SA Aquatic Sciences Centre upgrade been completed?

(b) If not, why not, given previous budgets have said it is to be completed by June 2025?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries): I am advised:

1. As per the Department of Treasury and Finance agency statement guide for government agencies, FTES for administered items are not included in the agency program information as this relates to the controlled operations of the department, with administered items included separately.

2.

(a) The detailed design and build of a dedicated coastal research vessel will occur over the next four (4) years, to be completed by the end of 2029.

(b) The existing vessel, the MRV Ngerin, is now 40 years old and is operating beyond its intended lifespan. As a result, it is outdated, no longer meets the requirements of modern scientific research, and is incurring rising maintenance costs. It is also at risk of unplanned decommissioning due to its age.

A purpose-built coastal research vessel is essential for supporting the sustainable management of our fisheries and aquaculture industries and fulfilling our responsibility to safeguard our marine environment.

(c) The fishing industry have been regularly updated about plans to replace the MRV Ngerin through quarterly PIRSA fisheries and aquaculture and industry EO meetings.

(d) The industry will continue to be updated throughout the design and build of a replacement vessel.

(e) The fishing industry has responded positively to the South Australian government's co-investment in a new coastal research vessel, viewing it as a strong commitment to advancing marine science and supporting the long-term sustainability of the state's fisheries.

3.

(a) The Malinauskas government has worked hard to ensure that most South Australian producers have the best possible market access conditions to sell their produce to most parts of Australia. As at 30 June 2025, the government continues to negotiate with Queensland and Western Australia to relax the current market access restrictions placed on South Australian growers which requires ongoing testing to allow access for most growers and currently excludes those properties on which the disease was previously detected from trading at all. In particular, PIRSA has compiled a technical feasibility package which has been presented to Queensland, outlining why one of those affected businesses in South Australia should be permitted to trade, given the comprehensive testing regime and decontamination process undertaken as part of our surveillance activities. I have written to and met with my counterpart in Queensland on a number of occasions on this matter. Alongside this, PIRSA has made a submission to the National Plant Health Committee as per their dispute resolution process in the event market access restrictions are not removed.

(b) As at 30 June, South Australian growers are still subject to market access restrictions to trade with Queensland and Western Australia. Properties that want to trade with these jurisdictions are required to have their crops sampled, tested and confirmed ToBRFV-free with a plant health certificate prior to produce movement. Currently, the three businesses on which the disease was previously detected are not permitted to trade with these jurisdictions at all. Outside of Queensland and Western Australia, South Australian unaffected growers can continue to trade without restriction.

(c) Consistent with the advice that has been received from South Australian growers, South Australia is strongly in favour and advocating for a reduction of regulations across the country for the trade of tomato, capsicum and chillies. Of course, interstate restrictions are largely based on whether or not the disease has been detected in a particular state and so they will vary between those that have and have not had a detection.

(d) I have written to and met with my counterparts interstate, strongly advising the current regulation placed on growers in South Australia is excessive and asking for their consideration in removing them.

4. It's not uncommon for the number and nature of new operating initiatives to vary from budget to budget, depending on the government's strategic priorities and the broader economic context. Budgets must strike a balance between resourcing new initiatives and continuing to support existing programs that deliver long-term value for the community.

In this case, the government has made significant targeted investments of nearly $57 million over the period from 2024-25 to 2028-29 to continuing programs that are essential to safeguarding our agricultural industries and regional economies. The programs listed under operating initiatives obviously don't reflect the full scope of work being undertaken across the portfolio.

The government is continually assessing emerging needs and allocating resources across a broad range of portfolios to support economic growth, community wellbeing, and future resilience.

5.

(a) The decrease in budgeted FTEs of 40.0 from 2024-25 estimated result to 2025-26 budget mainly relates to time-limited programs announced over the past 12 months that are expected to be completed by 30 June 2026. For example, FTEs in 2024-25 for the national eradication response to the tomato brown rugose fruit virus in South Australia (an increase of 19.0 FTEs in 2024-25)

(b) The decrease mainly relates to externally funded time-limited programs announced over the past 12 months that are expected to be completed by 30 June 2026 and includes employees in a range of positions. The budgeted FTE savings to be achieved by PIRSA in 2025-26 are not occupying frontline service roles.

(c) For 2024-25, 246 FTEs were based in a regional town or centre.

6.

(a) The building upgrade works have been completed with the seawater intake in the final stages, with commissioning work to be finalised in July 2025.

(b) As of 30 June 2025, the majority of the work has been completed, with the final stages of the commissioning work and variations for the seawater intake to be finalised in July 2025.

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