Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (11:25): I rise to make a brief contribution and wholeheartedly support the member for Morialta's bill because I too, like many in this house, have a young family with children spread out in age. I have an older son who is 23, my youngest daughter is 10 and my middle daughter, just turning 16, is starting to come into the realm of peer group pressure coming into what they call the party scene.

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (16:23): I, too, rise to make a contribution and just highlight what inefficiencies and deficiencies this year's state budget has, in particular, to assist the rural and regional areas of South Australia. As everyone here knows, I am the representative of the regional area of Chaffey, which is one of the food bowls of South Australia. It is one of the agricultural capitals of South Australia with over 4,000 small businesses, and many of them are bearing the brunt.

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (15:25): Today, I rise to speak about an issue in the electorate of Chaffey concerning Country Health SA. At the moment, they are looking at secretive job cuts. After being informed by the community that Country Health SA was offering targeted voluntary separation packages to local health staff, I became extremely concerned in a region that has been an ideal place for the aged and retiring. It is critical that the large elderly population has good health services.

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (12:21): I, too, rise to support the member for Stuart's motion, and I think sport is the heart and soul of the fabric of our community, both in regional South Australia and, just as importantly, in metro South Australia. I have had the good fortune to live in both country South Australia and down here in Adelaide, and sport is probably something that has the fondest memories for me; the opportunities that were given to myself as a young sportsperson.

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (15:26): Today I rise to speak about something that is dear to my heart and very important to the people of Chaffey and that is the Murray-Darling Basin Plan; the intergovernmental agreement that South Australia has yet to sign up to.

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (17:45): I rise to speak on the Heavy Vehicle National Law (South Australia) Bill and to echo the comments of the deputy leader, the member for Bragg. Obviously, this bill is an attempt to create a national scheme for regulation of heavy vehicles. On our national roads, it seeks to provide clarity to owners, operators and drivers of heavy vehicles, and it seeks to enhance efficiency and productivity through having similar provisions operating across all state borders.

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (11:57): Sitting through estimates really was a very frustrating time for myself, as it sounds like it was for many opposition members. Sitting through estimates did give me time to ponder what we achieved and what actually came out of estimates. The worth of the process is probably the biggest factor I jotted down when I was twiddling with my pen in absolute dismay at the opening statements and the Dorothy Dixers.

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (15:47): I rise today to speak about something that I have joined only a few days ago, and that is Dry July. I would like to speak about what Dry July actually is, what it does and what it achieves. I think it is a fantastic initiative, as does the member for Flinders, who has also joined up to Dry July. The member for West Torrens is shaking his head. I will get grumpy by the end of the month, don't you worry!

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (15:22): Today I rise to talk about an issue that is quite dear to my heart, being a citrus grower for nearly 25 years. During the last couple of weeks, I have been involved in a campaign to bring public awareness to a product that has been on our supermarket shelves—actually, it has been dumped on our supermarket shelves—and that is a product branded synonymously with South Australia as a Berri product and as a 'truly' orange product.

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (12:18): I rise today on the Same Sex Marriage Bill introduced by the member for Port Adelaide. As the member for Giles has declared, I am a single parent and my mother was a single parent, so I am not hiding behind any facade, let me tell you.However, this is an issue that has had increasing traction both in this place today and in the federal arena.