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.

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.

 The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE (Chaffey—Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development): I rise today to support this motion, and I cannot emphasise how important this motion is not only to this state but to the machinations of the Murray-Darling Basin. Let's take a little step back in history.