Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (15:22): I would like to talk about some of the events happening in Chaffey. As we all know, when spring is in the air, Chaffey is the best place to be. Obviously, sporting events are a great tradition in country South Australia and no more so than the winter sports coming to the finals and coming to an end. Over the last week or so, I have seen some outstanding sporting results and events.

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (12:46): I, too, rise to support this motion. The reason I rise to support the motion is that I think not only is the Limestone Coast a great attraction in regional South Australia but the regions of South Australia are complemented by the Limestone Coast. Starting my life on the Limestone Coast, or very close to it, I quickly learnt that every part of the regions in South Australia in particular has assets, and those assets are the destinations we all long to visit and all long to be a part of, none more so than the assets in the electorate of Chaffey—in the Riverland and the Mallee.

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (15:07): My question is to the Minister for Environment and Water. Will the government provide funding to undertake engineering works to prevent further breaches of the River Murray levee bank network?

Serious questions have been raised about the Malinauskas Labor Government’s management of River Murray levees following the overtopping and breaching of six Lower Murray levees early Friday morning.

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (15:09): I rise to grieve on something very dear to my heart, and that is the Murray-Darling Basin plan and the indecisiveness of state Labor governments and now a federal Labor government announcing the worst kept secret going—that is, that we are going to achieve the 450 gigalitres by voluntary buybacks.

The Opposition has successfully moved to establish a Parliamentary inquiry into the recent River Murray floods to help learn how South Australia can better prepare for future flooding events - despite the Malinauskas Labor Government inexplicably opposing the move.

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (11:40): I rise to support the member for Mount Gambier's motion. It is an important motion. Medical cannabis is playing a much more significant role in medical treatment of people on a day-to-day basis. We know that patients can legally access medical cannabis through prescription, and there are 600,000 Australians who are currently using cannabis for medical purposes; however, only 4 per cent is obtained by prescription.

The Opposition is calling on Peter Malinauskas to guarantee a review into the re-opening of the Waikerie birthing unit - following the start of an external inquiry into the closure of the same service at Whyalla, robbing expecting mothers of their right to give birth close to home.

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (14:48): My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Will the minister provide additional resources to the Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network to improve security and protect nurses and hospital staff? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, l will explain.

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (12:11): I, too, rise to make a contribution on the most recent budget handed down. As a regional MP and as a representative in this chamber, I stand here quite disappointed. There were a few small nuggets of hope, but from what I have seen in this place for a number of years now, and as one who has been here longer than most, it was a budget handed down by a Labor government that was quite typical of what Labor do.