Federal election heats up in Barker

HILLAM: The most critical issue is water security. The Murray-Darling Basin is critical to South Australian communities, and as such it is critical the MDB Plan is protected and delivered in full by 2024. We need proper transparency and accountability to make sure South Australians receive their fair share of water, and the Greens will fight to have the plan delivered in full and on time. This includes through voluntary water buybacks, which are an efficient and cost-effective way to return large amounts of water to the river. In the midst of a climate crisis, water is not always guaranteed, and we must take proactive action to ensure South Australians have a secure water supply before we are again plunged into drought. Country communities are on the frontline of climate change and we must ensure we support them in building resilience to climate impacts and creating new pathways and job security in the transition to a lower carbon future.

PIETZSCH: The most critical issues in Ag in SA at the moment are supply chain related issues and labour workforce related issues. The events in Ukraine and the economic after shocks of the COVID-19 crisis are a wake up call to SA, and indeed the nation. They have both shown the potential vulnerability of international supply chains and the world economy. As globalisation fractures, it is critical to ensure that governments assist in ensuring that South Australian industries are given support in the areas where they rely on global supply chains and that we aim to shore up capacity by diversity of supply and increasing local manufacturing. This ties in with the Nationals push for an increase in regionalisation and regional capacity and production.

QUAREMBA: Barker includes pretty much all of the South Australian length of the Murray, so for me one of the key issues is water reform. Before the Basin Plan, South Australian irrigators were already setting the benchmark for water efficiency but they have still had to sacrifice about 30 per cent of their water for environmental flows. Labor's plan to start buybacks up again to recover water is something to which I am firmly opposed. I don't think South Australian irrigators and river communities should be giving up another drop of water to the Basin Plan - they've done more than enough. A problem facing all farmers in Barker is endless government red and green tape. We really should be getting out of farmers' way and letting them do what they do best. And with respect to trade market access, I'd like to help farmers access a diverse range of markets to make them more resilient to trade shocks such as the punitive tariffs recently inflicted by China.

HANTON: Production expenses and adequate supply chains are the primary concern for our agriculture industry, with the ever increasing cost of living expenses and maintaining a business increasing and it just seems to be getting worse. The economy needs to be considered, with common sense spending by government bodies, and serious consideration to what is being produced and how that produce is being sold, whether it can be better utilised processing in Australia and providing the food stores for the Australian people to purchase. Encouraging growth within the region both through the economy and also with agriculture/horticulture and all other farming types. We can not tackle this issue without considering the other factors, water needs to be attached to the land and not used as a trading commodity. If elected, I will listen to the various industries within the region and work with those groups to address these issues. One of the main concerns I have and hear about often is the fact water is traded like a commodity - this needs to cease and the needs of those requiring the water to produce crops and maintain produce needs to happen and be at a reasonable price consistent across the board. This means stopping anyone who doesn't require water for the purpose of providing resources from purchasing water and then selling it on to those that do require that water. Put simply it is time for common sense to prevail and the needs of the Australian people must be paramount.

PANNELL: While I have worked on, and have owned a small farm, I am not fully across all the issue that are facing farmers today, but I am aware that the cost of fertiliser and chemicals have doubled in the last year. Also, the massive rise in diesel cost have added to this pain. Farming is a PRIMARY Industry and needs to be treated at such. That means we need reduce the cost or subsidise our farmers in their endeavours to supply goods to us the people. Most of the money made is done by the man in the middle and the question has to be, why? Farming is a risking business as they live from good year to good year and hope that there are not too many bad years in-between. While we can't control the bad years, we can do things to reduce the cost so that farmers have a bigger buffer and money to survive and expand.

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What is the biggest challenge in Barker at this time?

PASIN: Barker produces some of the highest quality food and fibre in the world. Our communities benefit from the ability to export this produce to the world. Recent trade challenges resulting from China's coercive actions is hurting key sectors in Barker. While many sectors are experiencing strong commodity prices some are suffering from these export market disruptions. For all sectors it is important that we continue to expand and diversify our export markets. That is why recent trade deals with India, the United Kingdom and European Union are so important.

HILLAM: We need hospital improvements and more resources in equipment and staff. Doctors are in great need in all our regional communities. It is critical that rural communities are not left behind when it comes to mental health, aged care, disability care and dental services, as well as drug and alcohol and domestic violence services. The Greens have a plan to invest in improving our public health system to ensure it is accessible for all - this includes getting mental health and dental into Medicare, so people can get the critical care they need at no out of pocket cost.

PIETZSCH: Skilled labour shortages across the region, particularly in agriculture, but also in all of the supporting industries would be one of the bigger challenges. As agriculture is booming we are seeing the aftershocks of a lack of investment in ag education and technical education over the past 30 years. We need to look at ways to attract people to the regions and to then ensure that they are supported through appropriate infrastructure and services so that they stay and raise families and contribute to regional communities.

QUAREMBA: As with much of the rest of the country, Barker is experiencing a housing crisis but the Liberals are only going to make things worse by bringing in 213,000 new immigrants a year from 2023. We need to reduce the demand for housing, not increase it, and improve the supply of housing. I'm backing Pauline Hanson's push to ban foreign ownership of residential property to increase housing supply, and to reduce immigration to sustainable levels.

HANTON: The Barker region has a variety of needs depending on the town in question. I believe that a solid infrastructure and attention to the needs of the various areas must be considered. To do this, the elected member should be speaking on a regular basis to those in the region, staying in touch and understanding the needs of those with in the region. There needs to be an open channel of communication so that the communities and the elected member can consolidate a common sense approach that is not over priced and costly to the Australian way of life.

PANNELL: There are too many areas that need to be looked at to answer this question fully, from the homeless and cost of housing to lack of work and so on. So, I will keep this answer to the topic of agriculture. I have always loved the land and was sad when I lost our small farm due to a division of assets between my ex-wife and myself. To be clear we both wanted to keep it but could not afford to buy the other out. And that's another part of the system that need to be address.

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PASIN: Connectivity for our communities is vital for sustainable, productive regions. Digitally, this means improving our mobile phone and internet infrastructure. Being connected digitally is no longer a luxury. It's imperative for doing business and staying safe in our regions. If we want to reach our agricultural potential we need to adopt new technologies and this requires digital connectivity. The recent Budget included $811.8 million for 'Connecting Regional Australia'; a large scale, flexible, multi-year fund that enables strategic investment in digital infrastructure and skills. It will build on but greatly expand the Mobile Black Spot Program that has delivered improved mobile coverage for many areas across Barker with a total of 32 new mobile base stations thanks to this Coalition government initiative.

Our road network is also vital to ensure we connect our world class produce to the rest of the world. Major transport routes such as the Sturt and Dukes Highways that connect Barker's industry to the eastern states and key export markets are not able to carry high productivity vehicles. By duplicating these highways we would give the transport sector the ability to carry over 30 per cent more freight per vehicle. Better roads equate to increased safety, productivity and efficiency for both residents and industry.

HILLAM: Investment in housing is critical in many communities in Barker to help with the growing needs of our communities, who are being priced out of the housing and rental markets. The Greens will build up to 70,000 affordable houses across SA, which includes public housing, shared ownership and affordable rental options.

PIETZSCH: Housing availability and affordability has presented as a mounting issue since the COVID pandemic began. On the one hand this is a good thing, decreasing supply means that our population is growing. On the other hand this presents us with a growing problem as young people are priced out of the market and those that want to live regionally can't find a place to stay. I would like to see investment in infrastructure that underpins private sector investment into housing development and a recognition that increasing regional housing supply is a necessity and not an option.

QUAREMBA: I'd like to see some big public investments in rail. One Nation is advocating for a national fast rail network and I think it's a great idea - fewer trucks and cars on our under-maintained road network. Pauline Hanson is one of the few Australian political leaders with a vision for the nation, and who's backing nation-building infrastructure like the hybrid Bradfield Scheme. I think Barker could also benefit from some more social infrastructure, particularly low-cost and public housing.

HANTON: If elected I would like to see the infrastructure of the region improved by firstly making water available as needed to those that require it, stopping the trading of water by especially foreign bodies. There is absolutely no requirement for foreign bodies to purchase water required by the Australian farmers and producers. I would also like to see that roads are improved making them suitable for the transport of the produce of the region and help towns develop possible new industries and manufacturing of produce within the region, creating more employment opportunities and growth for the towns involved.