The Malinauskas Labor Government has cut crucial funding for 168 Protective Security Officers in a huge blow to the safety and security of South Australians as SAPOL faces a staff shortage crisis.

The lack of support for the Riverland and Mallee in this week’s State Budget was disappointing but not surprising Member for Chaffey Tim Whetstone said today.

The Malinauskas Labor Government’s transparency track record has taken another hit with months’ worth of SAPOL crime statistics kept secret from South Australians.

Renmark has been recognised as South Australia’s Top Tourism Town for 2022.

An innovative pilot program will see seasonal workers in the Riverland employed by a Group Training Organisation to provide them with year-round work, learning valuable skills and addressing the workforce needs of the agriculture industry.

Sporting organisations in Chaffey will receive part of the Marshall Liberal Government’s $20.6 million Infrastructures Sports Grants, to improve facilities for grassroots sporting clubs.

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (15:51): I rise to speak on a couple of exciting issues that are happening not only within this place but up in the electorate of Chaffey. The Riverland floodplains are awash at the moment with high flows, and the nine year Riverine Recovery Project has released its final report. It is an $88.3 million project which has delivered across multiple phases of the floodplain system, particularly around the Riverland floodplain network. The report shows that the 7.24 gigalitres of water that have been returned to the environment are working.

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (12:19): Thank you, sir, and congratulations on your retirement speech yesterday. I am sad that I did not contribute, but it was all inclusive, as I witnessed. I would like to make a contribution to the commission to establish and maintain the exceptional tree register. The feeling is that it will impose significant and ongoing administrative function, and it is also unknown exactly what councils will do in implementing such a register.

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (16:27): It gives me pleasure to talk about some of the happenings in Chaffey over the last week—some of it good and some of it not so good, but first and foremost I mention the Riverland Auto Street Party celebrating Barmera's centenary. It was also celebrating 100 years of the automobile in Barmera.

Member for Chaffey Tim Whetstone is calling on Riverland and Mallee residents to support small business and bolster local jobs by shopping local this Christmas.