South Australia Labor MP Clare Scriven speaks on fodder transport subsidy scheme

ABC NEWS (Australia)

South Australia press conference with Labor MP Clare Scriven and dairy farmer Robert Brokenshire.

Transcript

00:00It is so good to be standing here in the rain but that doesn't mean that the drought is

00:06over or the impacts are over for our drought affected farmers across the state.

00:11This past week we have seen some good rains and in many areas they have been so pleased

00:16to see it.

00:17But what it still means is that the impact is continuing and that's why it's so important

00:22that the donated fodder transport subsidy has been able to today assist charities with

00:28bringing in fodder through Sojourner, over to Woodner and then distributing across the

00:33Eyre Peninsula and elsewhere across the state.

00:36So we know that there are so many farmers who are still doing it so so tough.

00:41This particular run is one of the biggest we've seen to South Australia and it brings the number

00:46of farmers that have been helped since the beginning of the year through the donated fodder

00:52transport scheme to almost 2,000 farmers.

00:55We've been very, very grateful for the partnership with the charities.

01:00This run today is through Need for Feed in partnership with farmers across borders.

01:05But we've also been working with a number of other charities including the South Australian

01:09Dairy Farmers Association.

01:10I'll pass over to dairy farmer Rob Brokenshire now to say a little bit more about that and

01:16then I'm happy to take questions.

01:18South Australian Dairy Farmers Association are really excited about this massive amount

01:33of hay coming across the border and we also thank Need for Feed and farmers across the border.

01:39But importantly, we also today thank the state government and particularly the Premier and

01:45Minister Scriven because if this freight subsidy wasn't available, many dairy farmers would

01:53have had to dry their cows off or indeed sell cows and we probably would have had quite a

01:59shortage of milk to supply South Australia.

02:02So please don't underestimate the support of the government in ensuring that we can keep

02:08the dairy industry going in South Australia.

02:10We'll keep you there while we've got you.

02:14So are you affected at the moment?

02:16How's your situation?

02:18Well, like all dairy farmers, we've certainly been affected.

02:22It's cost us as a family, sorry, I'll start again because I'm supposed to look at these very

02:27good looking gentlemen.

02:30Like all dairy farmers, our family have been affected.

02:34We've had to borrow hundreds of thousands of dollars to get through to this point and any support we can

02:40get to ensure that we remain sustainable is very much appreciated.

02:45We want to continue to supply a billion dollars worth of value-added dairy product to the

02:50South Australian economy.

02:52Rob, how significant is this rain we've had this weekend?

02:57Well, we've all got a big smile on our face about the rain, there's no doubt about that.

03:02High at Mount Compass 62mm, 30mm in Northern York Peninsula, Riverton 25, so the rain has

03:10been superb.

03:11It's the best rain in two years.

03:13But as Minister Scriven has said, this doesn't mean we're out of the drought.

03:18Farmers are still on tender hooks and we'll let you know in September or October whether

03:24we're really out of the drought.

03:26What does it mean to have these crews coming over from Western Australia to support?

03:31Well, obviously economically it's a lifesaver for many farmers.

03:36You know, we need to look after our stock.

03:39Animal welfare is front and centre for all farmers with livestock in South Australia.

03:44But as importantly, it's actually the mental relief to think that these people are prepared

03:51to go to these lengths to help us in our time of need.

03:55And for that, we'll never be able to say a big enough thank you.

03:59On that note, how stressful can these times be?

04:02Can you give us a bit of an insight into that?

04:05Well, I've been dairy farming for well over 40 years in my own right and this is the most

04:11stressful period.

04:12And I've been concerned for many dairy farmers and many farmers as to the impact on their mental health.

04:20That's why we're talking to each other two or three times a week often because we have to

04:26support each other.

04:27You know, when you've got debt, when you've got livestock and when your whole livelihood

04:32depends on rain, it hits you mentally pretty hard.

04:36And how dire has it been?

04:38Have you wondered how you're going to feed your cattle?

04:41Like how has it been?

04:43Personally, we're probably a bit better off than a lot of the dairy farmers.

04:47But I know for a fact that many dairy farmers and many livestock producers in South Australia

04:53have been at their wits end about how they're going to keep feeding their animals.

04:58And in fact, sadly, for many farmers across the state with livestock, they've completely

05:03de-stocked, including the Fleurieu Peninsula, which is the first time in my life I've ever

05:08seen farms de-stock in the high rainfall areas of South Australia.

05:13If this convoy wasn't coming now, would people be facing more dire circumstances?

05:20Say that, sorry.

05:22If this convoy wasn't coming now, what would the circumstances be?

05:27Well, if the state government didn't have freight subsidy package, and if we weren't getting

05:33Need for Feed and others bringing in this fodder, frankly, sadly, some banks would be knocking

05:39on the doors, I'd suggest, of some farmers, because it's that tight.

05:43It's really been exhausting financially and mentally.

05:47So the government being behind us and the volunteer organisations like Need for Feed are an absolute

05:55saviour.

05:56Any other questions on drought or rain?

06:05Maybe just quickly explain to us what would be to happen if the drought was broken, if this

06:11isn't a fault.

06:12Or, you know, that people at home were seeing all this rain.

06:15It just made you feel awesome on the reality again.

06:17Yeah, it's a really good point.

06:19So we are so pleased to see the rain, but we can't pretend that that means that the drought

06:24is over.

06:25And it doesn't mean that there's been enough rain in every farming area of the state.

06:30The rains have come very, very late, which means that a lot of people either sowed crops

06:34which then got blown away or didn't grow, or have had to re-sow or both.

06:40So what this rain means is, I think, some hope for our farmers who have been doing it so,

06:45so tough, but it means still that there is a long way to go.

06:50So we need to continue to support them, and the Government's $73 million drought support

06:54package is continuing to do that.

06:56Just on algal bloom, can you just tell us a little bit about the Government moving on

07:01Monday?

07:02What will that day look like, and what will the pot be achieved on that day?

07:06Yeah, so obviously we've been working as a Government with all the stakeholders and

07:11communities that are being affected by the toxic algal bloom.

07:16On Monday, the Cabinet is going to Ardrossan for our Cabinet meeting.

07:20That's an opportunity to hear firstly from the Council, who are obviously in touch with

07:25their local communities, but also to see first hand in that particular area.

07:31Now, all of the Government has been working hard in terms of the sort of assistance that

07:35might be available.

07:36We announced the $28 million package earlier in the week, and we continue to engage with

07:41fishing organisations, with tourism organisations, with communities, with councils and so on,

07:48and this is the next step of that.

07:50Will businesses impacted by the bloom get more details about the $10,000 droughts on Monday?

07:57We've talked about how there will be more detail coming in the coming days, yes.

08:02On the sharks that are being washed up across the state, why are they not, the autopsies

08:07of those not being released publicly?

08:10So, I became aware today that Shark Watch was seeking for the specific autopsy results,

08:15and I've arranged for that to occur.

08:17Once those results come in for any of the dead marine life that is being washed up on shore,

08:23and is having, for example, autopsies, we are more than happy to share that information.

08:27How have they been released prior to visit them?

08:30I think the details and the results have been coming in.

08:34Obviously, there's a lot of wildlife that is being washed up on our shores.

08:37Things like dolphins and the sharks that have been mentioned have been having autopsies.

08:42We're more than happy to have that available as soon as it is possible to get it up on the website.

08:48Some more samples being tested in New Zealand.

08:50Can I understand if there's a facility in Tasmania that can test for a while?

08:54Are we not visualising that facility?

08:57So, the Tasmania facility is not accredited for testing for the brevatoxins.

09:02So, it has some capability, but it needs to go through that accreditation process,

09:07and they need to be wanting to do so.

09:10We considered that it was more important to have a facility here in South Australia,

09:15particularly given, obviously, we're trying to reduce any of the wait times and getting results back.

09:20If they were going to Tasmania, that obviously will involve far more time

09:25than if we can have that facility established here in South Australia.

09:29Do you think it would be a better use of money to get that facility,

09:31given it's already up to a certain standard,

09:33rather than it's going to be too many more than getting a local facility here?

09:36Wouldn't it be wiser to put less money into the Tasmanian facility,

09:39with the turnaround being less than sending it to New Zealand?

09:43So, there would still be a delay in turnaround if we were using a Tasmanian facility.

09:47It would need to get accredited, and the Tasmanian government would need to want to do that,

09:51and to be able to prioritise South Australian results.

09:55In the event that there was an algal bloom in Tasmania and in South Australia,

10:00and brevetoxins were being tested,

10:02we want to make sure that we can give priorities to South Australian tests.

10:06That's what having a South Australian facility will enable us to do.

10:09Do you need to travel into Ardrossan on Monday?

10:11Yes, I will.

10:12Are you on holiday?

10:13Yes, I officially start leave on Monday,

10:16but I'm happy to go to Ardrossan and be part of that Cabinet meeting.

10:19Do you think on the scale of this environmental process,

10:21and you're one of the leading ministers,

10:23and is it appropriate for you to be willing on two weeks later?

10:26I don't think there's ever a good time to take leave.

10:29We need to spend time with our families, though,

10:31and this was two weeks that I had the opportunity to do that.

10:35Obviously, I'll stay in touch and get briefed very regularly

10:38on any changes with the algal bloom,

10:41and anything else that I need to be across.

10:43Minister, is your government engaged in law with the federal government

10:46about declaring this a national disaster?

10:49I think the federal government is very clear

10:51that the South Australian government considers this a national disaster,

10:54and would like to see it declared so.

10:56We will continue to put that to the case,

10:58as we have for some time in recent weeks.

11:01So, as the Premier has said, there's been a lot of work done with Bedford.

11:14Both the South Australian government has been working with them,

11:17and we understand they've been in contact with the federal government.

11:20The South Australian government has put some money on the table.

11:23We want to, of course, make sure that that money is used

11:26in the best way possible to support the people who work at Bedford.

11:31We know that they are not just seeing that as their employment,

11:34but so often their social environment, a real meaning to each day.

11:39And so we want to make sure that there is a sustainable pathway going forward.

11:44Any money that the South Australian government puts in will be to that end.

11:49What can we expect tomorrow, being the date that it's due to go into

11:53volunteer administration?

11:54So, the State Government is working with Bedford over this weekend,

11:58and we hope that there will be able to be a positive outcome

12:01to this very, very distressing time for all of those who work at Bedford,

12:06as well as their families and their communities.

12:08Cool. Thank you.

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