THE state’s new Primary Industries Minister Tim Whetstone has vowed to champion regional SA and give it the support and recognition it deserves after years of “neglect”.
“Premier Steven Marshall has led by example in his support for the regions and understanding it is critical to the prosperity of the state, unlike the previous Labor administration which dismissed the importance of the regions because there were 'no votes for Labor',” he said.
The Riverland-based MP gained the primary industries portfolio, which covers agriculture, food, forestry and fisheries, along with regional development, after a surprise switch with David Ridgway, who is the new Investment and Trade Minister.
Our Vic counterparts have it good compared to the lack of support for SA but that is about to change.
Mr Whetstone says he is “absolutely delighted”.
“My father was a well-known stock agent and livestock shipper for many years and for the last three generations my family have been on the land,” he said.
“I love every bit of agriculture and can’t wait to get out and meet people in regional SA and get some dirt on my boots.”
Mr Whetstone’s plans include helping reduce red tape for small businesses and helping them get on with creating jobs and growing the economy.
“Having been a producer myself I know the cost of doing business in SA is uncompetitive with other states so my focus will be to make sure input costs are as low as possible,” he said.
“Our Vic counterparts have it good compared to the lack of support for SA but that is about to change.
“If someone comes to me with a good idea we need to find pathways on how we can progress the idea and make it happen.”
Mr Whetstone began his career as an apprentice fitter and turner but has called the Riverland home since the late 1980s, growing citrus and winegrapes at Renmark and Overland Corner.
He has held the seat of Chaffey since 2010 when he defeated Nationals MP Karlene Maywald.
The former SA Murray Irrigators chair stood for state politics after being disenchanted with the way Riverland irrigators were being treated during the Millenium Drought.
“I ran on the platform of put up or shut up,” he said.
I am not making an assumption we will have GM but we will look at the science on both sides and then build a case either way.
Mr Whetstone says water security for agriculture remains a key priority and is keen to see the Murray-Darling Basin Plan upheld.
He strongly supports an independent review into growing genetically-modified crops rather than the previous government and Agriculture Minister’s “black and white” anti-GM stance.
“As a grower myself I know it should be about growers having options for what they grow,” he said.
“I am not making an assumption we will have GM but we will look at the science on both sides and then build a case either way.”
He acknowledges more support is needed for agriculture research but wants to meet with different sectors before putting any figures on an annual budget for SARDI.
“We need more skills training to be more competitive and we need to look at the role SARDI and PIRSA can play to value-add our agriculture commodities and fisheries, which can also help create jobs for the regions.”
One area he is keen to address is reducing the large amount of food waste by developing innovative alternative products.
Mr Whetstone says the government’s Regional Growth Fund will deliver $150 million across the next decade and many more millions will be committed through Royalties for Regions.
This will address the “neglect” in regional infrastructure spend under 16 years of Labor.
“Primary producers and all rural people face challenges from when they drive out their front gate with the lack of maintenance of roads and upgrades, and in many areas the cessation of rail,” he said. He says GlobeLink will be central to this.
