Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (11:36): I would like to rise to make a small contribution. Renmark High School is one of the high schools in the Riverland, and I am very, very proud that one of my children attended there for a couple of years before heading down to Adelaide to finish his schooling career. Renmark High School is a very proud school located close to the banks of the beautiful River Murray. It has students from very diverse cultural backgrounds and walks of life and they have been very well regarded in terms of their academic and sporting achievements.

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (15:09): I rise to speak about some of the investment that is coming into the great electorate of Chaffey. We are in unprecedented times and, while we are in those unprecedented times, it is about jobs. It is about creating jobs, particularly in the regions. It has never been more important. With a $12.9 billion infrastructure spend, we are seeing a huge amount of growth in buildings and the repair of roads that were endured and neglected for 16 years of a state Labor government.  

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (16:21): I would like to rise to talk about some of the important issues in the great electorate of Chaffey.

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE (Chaffey—Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development) (15:21): I rise today to speak about some of the goings on in the great electorate of Chaffey. Last Friday, it was great to be in Berri, in the Riverland, to be part of the announcement and launch of the 5G tower—

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE (Chaffey—Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development) (15:24): Today, I rise to take the opportunity to speak about and reflect on the strength of my local community, particularly through the adversity of COVID-19, and how they have risen and rallied together through an uncertain period of time, particularly owning a local small business, running a farm or just being in a service sector.

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE (Chaffey—Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development) (15:26): I rise today to speak about a long-term problem faced by regional South Australia: the Black Spot program, which the previous government ignored because there were no blackspots under a Labor government, only under a Liberal government.

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE (Chaffey—Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development) (15:12): I would like to speak about some of the activities that have recently happened in the great electorate of Chaffey. As we head into the school holidays, many people will be on the roads holidaying and travelling into the regions of South Australia. Obviously, having previously dealt with border closures and COVID, people now have the opportunity to explore the regions of South Australia. What better place to visit than the Riverland.

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE (Chaffey—Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development) (15:13): I would like to speak with appreciation about the good people of the Riverland, the electorate of Chaffey particularly, over the Easter period. The holiday break, particularly the school holidays, has been a significant challenge for many not only to stay home, to social isolate and social distance but also to make sure that the kids remain safe, particularly over the period of uncertainty during school holidays, dealing with COVID-19. I thank them for their discipline, particularly over that Easter school holiday period.

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE (Chaffey—Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development) (15:09): I, too, rise to make a plea to the public of South Australia and those visitors who would normally travel to the great River Murray, one of the great destinations. I am sure that many people in this chamber alone have at some point in time holidayed or travelled up to the River Murray in one way, shape or form for a great experience, whether that is to the river, to Lake Bonney, to some of the beautiful pristine environment, or to visit some of the fantastic wetlands. These are some of the greatest experiences in our lifetime, particularly of our childhood.

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.