The Member for Chaffey Tim Whetstone has criticised the 2025-26 State Budget as a missed opportunity and a reminder that the Malinauskas Labor Government continues to ignore the Riverland and Mallee.

South Australia’s agricultural sector is facing yet another setback, with news today that US President Donald Trump has singled out Australian beef in his latest round of tariffs.

The Opposition is calling on the Government to help start direct flights between Adelaide and India to boost trade and tourism.

Member for Chaffey Tim Whetstone was proud to host the Purnong Community Safety Forum alongside Shadow Minister for Community Safety and Police on 26 February.

A community forum in Purnong will provide local residents with the opportunity to come together to share ideas, address safety challenges and discuss SAPOL services in the area.

Riverland and Mallee residents are encouraged to think local first this festive season to support small businesses across the region.

I rise to speak about an event I attended this morning down at McLaren Vale, The Advertiser Bush Summit. It has been touted as one of the great regional platforms in South Australia over a number of years. I would like to thank Ms Rinehart as a sponsor through Rossi Boots. She does an outstanding job not only sponsoring and supporting Australian sport but also in shining a spotlight on the regions of Australia, none more important than here in South Australia.

The Albanese Government’s announcement to open a water tender buyback in the Southern Connected Murray-Darling Basin will send shockwaves through communities whose economic sustainability depends on irrigated agriculture.

I rise on this very important condolence motion and reflect Raymond Steele Hall, aka Steele. He was born in Balaklava on 30 November 1928 and was a former wheat and sheep farmer in Owen in the state's Mid North. He was originally a regional MP representing Gouger. His parliamentary career spanned over 33 years, as the only Australian to serve as Premier and a member of three legislatures: the House of Assembly, Senate and the House of Representatives.

I rise, too, to make a few comments. A few weeks back the South Australian government attempted to pat themselves on the back for establishing Invest SA. In reality, they had re-established a program whose work was already being done by the Department for Trade and Investment. So what has this actually done for South Australia? It has actually taken the investment out of trade and investment, created more red tape and is less streamlined, and it has shifted the goalposts—and this is the alarming part of what the government has done. Previously, DTI targets required facilitating a value of foreign investment into South Australia. The word 'foreign' has now been removed in last year's budget target, which means it's a broken promise.