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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.
Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (12:50): I rise to support a very good amended motion by the member for Schubert—because on this side we are not about spin. We are about acknowledging the great work that our paramedics do, our frontline workers, our frontline paramedics who come in all shapes and sizes; whether it be an ambulance officer, whether it be a medical facility staff member or whether it be a volunteer it is a critically important space in any community. Whether in a metropolitan community or a regional community, I have witnessed over many years the valuable contribution that all paramedics make.
Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (15:25): I rise to give an industry outlook, particularly in the Riverland, with the wine industry in the doldrums that it is currently in. Sadly, I speak on the perilous condition of the wine industry at the moment, and a lot of it is derived from the red wine sector and, yes, it has been the loss of the Chinese wine market that the wine industry had been geared up for. The majority of wine grapes in South Australia are red wine grapes and a lot of that red industry has been geared up for the China market.
The Opposition has moved to establish a Parliamentary Select Committee into the 2022-23 River Murray floods, after the Malinauskas Labor Government ruled out conducting a crucial independent inquiry into the disaster.