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June 18, 2025 15 mins

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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, the Liberal Oppositions Response and Recovery Bill twenty twenty
five past the Legislative Council yesterday, Chadow. Minister for Primary
Industries and Regional South Australia, Nikola senta Fandi joins me. Now, Nicola,
good morning to.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
You, Good morning Graham, to you and your listeners. Thanks
for having me.

Speaker 1 (00:15):
Why was the bill necessary?

Speaker 2 (00:18):
Well, look, Graham, we've been hearing from farmers and farming
communities for months and months now that despite the Federal
government's announce of a seventy three odd million dollar drought package,
that that drought package simply isn't or has missed the
mark and isn't getting on the ground. To be honest, Graham,

(00:41):
you know I don't want to have put this bill
forward to Parliament. I would have I would have wanted
the government to ensure that this practical support is hitting
the ground. But the reality is is that without things
like a proper declaration of drought, without things like a

(01:02):
coordinator and our note and we certainly welcome the government's
announcement of Alex Zimmermann as a Drought Commissioner last week,
and without a dedicated fund to assist in things like
know and low concessional loans, reimbursement of fees and charges

(01:22):
associated with land, new stock movement, water licensing. Really what
farmers have been crying out for, and that is a
hand up, not a handout, and really cash flow that
is urgently needed during this severe drought to enable them
to do things like pay their interest bills, purchase food

(01:43):
for their livestock, purchase hey, purchase podder and also for
payments of water cutting if required. So that is what
this bill ultimately is about. And again this is something
that our farmers and communities have been calling for months,
and this bill is about giving structure to what, for

(02:05):
too long I think has been an ad hoc and
reactive approach to drought in South Australia. And this bill
is something that the Opposition and the entire cross Bench
have united around. I just want to recognize the cross
Bench for their support of this bill. They absolutely understand

(02:25):
and we've stood together to say, look, enough is enough.
It's time for the government to step up and to
provide the support that our regional South Australians deserve. Now
we know this bill isn't perfect, no piece of legislation is,
but it is a critical foundation, and there's still time
to improve it. And I've written directly to the Premier

(02:47):
and to the Minister for Primary Industries inviting them to
take a multipartisan approach to this bill. You know, I'm
not just open to collaboration. I'm actually actively seeking it.
Our door is open. I'm really saying to them, let's
work together.

Speaker 1 (03:04):
Why is it Why is it so important to declare
it a drought. I mean, the government knows it's a drought.
The farmers now it's a drought. I know it's a drought.
You know it's a drought. Why you know this declaration
of a drought. What difference could that possibly make?

Speaker 2 (03:16):
Well, you know, we saw recently in the Advertiser that
one and two grain producers are struggling to access at
finance and credits. And I think, you know, one grain
producer put it that that their banks advised that if
a drought declaration is made then it gives them more
scope for the hardship lending. Now we know that that's

(03:38):
not the case, you know, under the National Drought Agreement.
But the reality on the ground is that by declaring
it a drought, it sends a clear signal not just
to all levels of government and industry, but also to
those financial institutions and to the Australian Taxation Office that

(03:58):
support is necessary and is absolutely urgent. And a draught
declaration isn't about exclusion, It's about recognition. It's about recognizing
the scale and severity of the crisis that is currently
facing our regional communities. So, you know, we feel that

(04:20):
a declaration you know, which is backed, which would be
backed by local data and criteria, just really ensures that
those who need the help most receive it.

Speaker 1 (04:32):
Thank you, Santa Fandi will move on because of the
primary Industry's minister joins us now Claires Gribven. How would
you respond to Nicholas center Fandy, Good morning, Graham.

Speaker 3 (04:43):
Look, the issue with this bill that passed the Upper
House yesterday is that it creates a whole lot of
extra red tape. It directly contravens the National Drought Agreement,
and it adapts a policy that's being rejected around the
country now more than a decade. Because what it does
it doesn't dedicate any extra money to drought support. It

(05:04):
says that we need to have a declaration and a
whole lot of other red tape before any drought support
can slow. So just for example, what it says is
you can't release drout support until some undefined sort of
declaration is made. A drought coordinators appointed, that person develops
a plan, they consult on the plan, including inviting written submissions,

(05:26):
and then it's approved by the governor. So that's a
very long process before any drought support can slow. And
it really does also raise the question, well, if this
was adopted, does that mean that all of the drought
support that we curn't be doing the seven to three
million dollars which is a state package, not a federal
packages that have Shadow Minister said would have to stop,
because that's certainly what it appears to say in the bill.

(05:48):
And also what it does it reintroduces lines on a map,
so if you're in a declared area, then you can
get assistance. If you're not in a declared area then
you can't. Now this is something that's been rejected because
we all know your farm's on one's father Road, my
farm's on the other, and I can't. I can get
support and you can't. Is ridiculous. So it really is

(06:10):
a very very rushed and ill thought through.

Speaker 1 (06:13):
You're suggesting that I keep would add red tape, but
the suggestions from the opposition is that there's red tape
already that is slowing up the aid getting to the farmers.
Is that the case, Well, there's.

Speaker 3 (06:23):
Obviously got to be a criteria for our grants. This
is taxpayers money and everyone would expect that there is.
When it comes to the on farm infrastructure grants, they
are now being processed within thirty days that we've been
able to streamline that back and that's all been able
to happen without a piece of legislation that would add weeks,
if not months to that process. So you know, we

(06:46):
really can We've been working constantly with industry. The packages
that we have developed first in November and then in
April they are announced they've been developed with industry. This
bill was not consulted that well, it was not developed
with industry. As the Shadow Ministry yesterday in Parliament, you know,
did she work with the peak bodies that represent farmers,
all the different spectors in developing this bill and she didn't.

(07:10):
You know, what we know she did was developed and
introduced it to Parliament and then send a copy to them.
We really need to be working closely with industry. Closely
with farmers, and that's what the state government has been doing.

Speaker 1 (07:22):
We've heard a lot from farmers saying, you know, they
don't just want to hand out they would like a
low interest loan, now interest loans so they can get
back on their feet and do what they do best.
Is that likely to happen.

Speaker 3 (07:36):
So there is a federal fund that does that. It's
called the Rick Loans, and I've spoken with farmers who
have been able to avail themselves of that and they've
found it very helpful. Now, both the Premier and myself
have been advocating to the federal government that those loans
should have a lower interest rate than they currently do.
So they're confessional loans, but I think it's about five

(07:56):
point two percent, So given that there's been changes in
the general markets for interest, we're advocating that that should
be lowered. And also the farm household allowance has a
threshold in terms of the assets test of five and
a half million dollars, and we're saying that really needs
to be looked at and potentially increased. So where there's

(08:17):
already mechanisms set up as there are in the federal system,
we're not trying to replicate that here in the state government.
What we're trying to do is feeling where some things
are not addressed, and we're continuing to look at ways
that we might be able to do that.

Speaker 1 (08:32):
Cleis Griwin and thanks for your time. Primary Industries Minister. Well,
let's speak now with Stephen McCarthy, the District Council of Remarkable.
He is the mayor. Stephen, good morning to you.

Speaker 4 (08:43):
Good morning.

Speaker 1 (08:44):
What do you make of the Opposition's Drought Response and
Recovery Bill? Do we need to declare a drought? Are
you happy with what's happening in supportive farmers at the moment?

Speaker 4 (08:54):
Yeah, Look, it's a complex as The short answer to
that is yes, we are supportive of the bill that's
been presented at this point in time. I think people
that are working in this space or understand the space
that this is a very difficult thing to work through
and people and farmers, primary producers, etc. Are able to

(09:19):
access current programs over time. What happens with drought as
against any other emergencies such as fire and floods, etc.
It's not as visually obvious at this point in time,
and we finish up with the areas. I think and
I understand the reference to boundaries, which is always a challenge.

(09:40):
But we have the Upper and Far North part of
our primary production areas out here at the moment that
are three years in to what is devastating for their families,
their businesses and their areas and communities, etc. Then we've
got other areas where it's nowhere near as dramatic in duration,

(10:01):
but the impact is similar, of course, because you knowught
is drought of course, So what we don't have is
the ability to recognize where there's a crisis area, which
we do have in the Upper North versus those that
are equally doing it as tough, but the crisis are
not quite as severe. So I think through this bill,

(10:21):
i'd be anticipating that we actually get to a point
where we can have a better definition on how we
actually deal with what is an emergency versus dealing with
the dry season.

Speaker 1 (10:33):
So what is the state of play for farmers in
your region at the moment mentally and physically.

Speaker 4 (10:40):
Look, mentally, people are exhausted, and I'm generalizing here. We've
got some areas, amount remarkable Council area that is not
as devastated as some of the others. But to our
neighbors certainly surrounding us to the north and to the east.
They're mentally exhausted financially, they draw out as hardened as

(11:01):
far as they can go. Getting assistance is ad hoc.
And whilst there is assistance out there, and nobody's saying
to deny that it is ad hoc. Where the whim
if you like, of how the volunteers who kart hay
and those processes are able to get resources and the

(11:22):
feed etc. To these areas. But it is ad hoc.
And despite how wonderful that is, it's not sustainable. And
so people are dealing with these inconsistencies and the build
up of that over a period of time to the
point where they actually doubt that there is a future.

Speaker 1 (11:39):
Yes, Stephen McCarthy, our thoughts are with you. Stephen McCarthy
is the Juristic District Council of remarkable mayor. Let's go
over to the West Coast Susie Kenny as a farmer
and author. She joins us. Now, Susie, good morning to you.

Speaker 3 (11:52):
Good morning.

Speaker 1 (11:53):
Now, what are you making of the opposition start response
Recovery Bill? Are you happy with the level of support
you're getting at the moment, what's the state of play
on the West Coast.

Speaker 3 (12:05):
So out here on the West Coast, we are definitely
still in drought and it's a real crisis. So yeah,
we are supportive of the new bill that's being proposed.
And one of the things that I will just say
is will while it may not be perfect, nothing's perfect

(12:26):
at the moment. So for Minister Scriven to be able
to actually be open to working with the Shadow Minister
to create something that is actually going to hit the mark,
hit the target and all of the funding that is
in the current package to be used efficiently and effectively.

Speaker 1 (12:46):
So do you think it's being tied up with red
tape at the moment? Is it just the money is there?
We're seventy three million dollars the state government allocated. Is
it not getting to where it needs to be?

Speaker 3 (12:57):
Well, absolutely it's not. I mean I don't know many
people on farm household allowance out here because the parameters
are so low and so tied to actually qualify for
farmhousehold allowance, and then a lot of the things in
the current package you can only qualify if you're on
farm household allowance, the infrastructure grant, there is no cash flow,
so people can't you know, they don't want to spend

(13:20):
things like putting in a new rain would a tank
or something like that if there's no cash flow that
they've got to put up front in the hope that
then they'll receive a subsidy to assist them. So yeah,
there's just a few things I think in the long
term that funding package. Yes, okay, there was, there's some
areas that do assist farmers, but the crisis hasn't been addressed.

(13:46):
And also while yes, there may be some more red
tape and some more consultation with this new bill, of course,
I feel like farmers have actually had direct access to
Nicholas Center farm and farmers have been able to express
to her directly what we need. And so often out

(14:06):
here we feel very forgotten. We're very remote, and we're
in the far west of the state. And to have
someone to be able to listen to our needs and
to be able to actually cut through from you know,
cut through to try and contact our peak bodies and
have our peak bodies advocate for us, that is another

(14:29):
process for us. So it's when people are in crisis,
we want to cut through all the processes in the
best way possible to receive the help, and farmers don't
actually want to be doing this. We would prefer to
just get on with our job and that's feeding the
state and contributing to the state economy in such a

(14:51):
huge way.

Speaker 1 (14:53):
And that, Susie, you put it so well. Thank you
for your time today. It's Susie Kenny, West Coast farmer
and author. With the situation generally feeling the people on
the land seem to be pleased that the opposition is
put forward its drought response and Recovery Bill. I think
it'd be fair to say the feeling is that we
want bilateral support. The farmers want bilateral support because this

(15:13):
is an issue that's affecting the state. It shouldn't be
a political football. We need to help the farmers overcome
the impact of the drought, the drought that's gone on
for about three years now. Five A Mornings with Graham
Goodings
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