The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE (Chaffey—Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development) (15:08): I would like to rise today to speak about some of the achievements this government has brought in to the electorate of Chaffey. It all comes on the back of jobs for Chaffey, better services in Chaffey and, of course, reducing the cost of living in Chaffey—and how important that is. Over the two years that the Marshall Liberal government has been governing South Australia, particularly in Chaffey we have seen the reinstatement of the community legal services. Sadly, the previous government withdrew the community legal services in Chaffey, reduced services, and if anyone wanted any community legal help they had to go down south of Adelaide—absolutely outrageous. It is a great initiative, a $600,000 commitment from the Marshall government that has allowed the reinstatement of this service, providing better services into Chaffey.

The Marshall Liberal Government will stand firm in its support for South Australian grain growers’ campaign to enjoy the same freedom of choice available to their interstate neighbours when it comes to growing genetically-modified crops.

South Australia’s primary industries and agribusiness sector has reached record levels, generating $15.2 billion revenue in 2018-19 – an increase of two per cent on the previous year despite challenging conditions.

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE (Chaffey—Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development) (15:23): I would like to rise to speak about the greatest electorate in South Australia, and that is the electorate of Chaffey, to talk about mobile phone blackspots. I am very happy to say that on Thursday two mobile blackspots in the electorate of Chaffey will be turned on, and it is great news for the people at Murtho on the Murtho Road in those surrounding areas at Murtho South. We will see that first tower have the switch flicked, as well as at Wunkar, which is one of the great grain growing areas on the border of the Riverland and Mallee.

Adelaide Hills and Kangaroo Island wine grape growers will have access to subsidised smoke taint test samples to assist them in better understanding the impact on their crop from the bush fires. 

Fodder support to bushfire affected livestock producers continues to grow with more than 2,000 tonnes of hay distributed across Kangaroo Island and Cudlee Creek.

The results are in for South Australia’s first recreational snapper fishing ballot which received more than 3,600 applications from fishers contending for the chance to target the iconic species in south east waters during the 2020 season.

Farmers on mainland South Australia now have the choice to buy and grow genetically modified seeds and crops with new regulations starting today.

The Marshall Liberal Government is urging the community to support local businesses affected by the devastating South Australian bushfires.

Farmers on mainland South Australia will have the choice to grow genetically modified crops from January 1 after the Marshall Liberal Government today introduced new regulations.