Tom Venning
Grey · Liberal Party · Australia
“Residential burglaries, commercial property theft and daylight shoplifting have left citizens and business owners feeling completely helpless as crime targets every sector of this great regional community. Police statistics show the town is in the midst of a spate of burglaries, with 34 incidents recorded in the first half of June alone.”
“For the Port Augusta community, the most difficult part of this crime wave is what they view as a revolving door bail system for serious juvenile offenders and a lack of quality youth diversion programs in the region. Police can only do so much.”
“Mr Kean was personally chosen by the Prime Minister to lead the Climate Change Authority. It has now been revealed that he spent over $32,000 on one single trip to Brazil last year for an international climate conference.”
“Imagine sitting around the dining table with your family and telling them, 'We're going to spend more money than we receive every year for the next 10 years.' You wouldn't. In fact, you can't, yet that's exactly what this Labor government and this Treasurer are doing. To pay for this, they deploy toxic taxes, assaulting aspiration.”
“Labor cannot manage money, so they continue to come after yours. The average Australian's paying 39 per cent more tax under this government. Since Labor was elected, Australia suffered the biggest fall in living standards in the developed world.”
“It's lifting prices, inflating government charges and pushing hardworking Australians into paying more tax. While Labor profits from this inflation, their tax cuts do not keep up. At 70c a day, they won't even buy a cup of coffee a week.”
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“I stand here today to speak for the pastoralists and broadacre farmers in regional, rural and remote Australia—the hardworking men and women who wake up before the sun to feed this nation and, indeed, the world. Right now, those farmers are feeling a deep sense of disappointment. Actually, let's call it what it is: they feel betrayed. The government has sold out Australian agriculture with this unfair deal with the European Union. It says in front of me and behind me that this is an EU free trade deal. What is free about quotas, tariffs and other trade restrictions? Remember that in the EU they subsidise their farmers. This agreement was pushed through during a crisis and it is a missed opportunity. As I said last week, it's a dog's breakfast. But, for variety today, I'll call it a dog's dinner.”
“It's like a runaway truck with no brakes—and, because that truck has no diesel, when it finally comes to a stop, they won't be able to start it up again. I just want to share some facts about energy density for our Greens and teal voters. Prime movers cannot run on batteries. Mining trucks cannot run on batteries. Tractors cannot run on batteries. Fishing boats cannot run on batteries. More than 50 per cent of energy consumed in this country is from liquid fuels. Get the diesel moving and get this economy moving.”
“There is disappointment currently being felt by farmers across my electorate. The government has completely sold out Australian agriculture with an unfair free trade deal with the EU. Pushed through during a period of global crisis, this agreement is a missed opportunity. It falls drastically short of industry expectations. Make no mistake: what we have seen here cannot be characterised as a free trade agreement. It's far from free. It is a dog's breakfast. The EU continues to protect its own interests while Australia is left picking up the tab again. Consider the beef sector. This agreement grants just over 30,000 tonnes of access over the next decade, yet 50,000 tonnes was the absolute minimum to remain competitive. This government has lost control of the economy.”
“We cannot afford to waste any more time engaging in empty political spin while regional towns suffer through these wildly inflated prices. This parliament should be completely focused on getting fuel flowing and getting prices firmly under control right now. We need real solutions to ensure no community is left behind. Australia is a net energy exporter in the form of coal and gas. Why are we not working with our export partners to get agreements to ensure that the liquid fuels flow to this country? I'll end with this: Mary Morris, a farmer from Eudunda, said it best: 'Today I received a phone call to say I was reclassified as "critical" and I might get fuel on April Fool's Day, if it comes. This is an absolute disgrace.' April Fool's Day—what a sick joke.”
“The coalition today offers a broader warning. There is a genuine risk for an absolute economic earthquake if this is not addressed urgently, yet we see a complete failure to act. This government has introduced legislation but has not progressed it. They have failed entirely to act on essential price-gouging protections. This crisis is now visible in both our regional and urban areas. The core message from the coalition today is simple: this emergency is undeniably urgent and it is incredibly real. It is hitting vulnerable Australians exceptionally hard and immediate action is needed. Labor must finally prioritise our struggling families and our hardworking farmers. Right now, everyday Australians are unfairly paying the ultimate price for constant government delay and stubborn denial.”
“Within days, we watched the flip-flop from saying there was no fuel problem to suddenly declaring a national crisis. We have seen multiple hastily convened National Cabinet meetings achieve absolutely nothing. This government was caught completely flat footed, totally asleep at the wheel and in absolute denial about the scale of this issue. The economy-wide impact is severe. Fuel costs are hitting farmers and fishers hard. Dedicated manufacturers are being squeezed, and the vital freight and logistics sector is being crushed. Predictably, these surging costs are going to be passed directly onto everyday customers at the local supermarket checkout. Meanwhile, small businesses—who are already facing industrial relations pressure, crippling inflation, rising taxes and heavy compliance costs—now have to take this brutal blow.”
“Regional Australians rely on diesel vehicles for basic survival, yet they are currently being bled dry by Labor's errors around fuel management and ignoring blatant price-gouging market tactics. Families are carpooling just to save money and, with Easter approaching, cancelling planned holidays and visits to see other family members because travel is just too damn expensive. In my electorate, hardworking tourist operators in Wallaroo, Port Lincoln, Coffin Bay and the bottom end of Yorke Peninsula, who rely on critical seasonal revenue, are watching bookings disappear. This is on top of the harmful algal bloom. Australians expect real leadership. Instead, they receive silence, confusion and mixed messaging. The government's contradictions on this issue are breathtaking.”
“Australia is facing a genuine national energy and fuel crisis that is devastating our nation. Across the country, particularly in our vital regional communities, everyday citizens are quite literally running on empty. Hardworking people are looking to the Labor government for leadership, urgency and decisive action. Instead, we are—and I am—very disappointed. Unfortunately, this is a government that has completely run out of gas when it comes to this issue. The reality is stark: petrol is soaring to nearly $2.50 a litre while diesel hits $3.20 in many of the towns in regional South Australia. These prices are hitting households, and hitting fishers, farmers and tradies.”
“Outsourcing this crisis to a taskforce coordinator only reinforces the chilling sense that no-one is firmly in charge of this crisis. Under Labor, inflation is higher, interest rates are tighter and fuel is running out. The Prime Minister cannot claim to govern for all Australians when he has turned his back on the country. It is time to stop deflecting and start showing real leadership because, if the country stops, the city starves.”
“Free trade is central to our prosperity, but it must be done right. The deal Labor is currently shopping around offers no commercially meaningful access for our agricultural exporters. It is a surrender of sovereignty. Since when did we decide that the Europeans should dictate what we call our own products? Labor calls it a reprieve that we can still use names like prosecco. I call it a failure to stand up for Australian interests. The message from the country is loud and clear—we are tired of being ignored. Reports that the states are begging for direction from Anthony Albanese are deeply concerning. This reveals a vacuum at the top when clear national resolve is needed most. Instead of stepping up, the Prime Minister is passing responsibility back to the states. That is not leadership; that is deflection.”
“Our national food security is under a silent mounting threat. Australia relies on the Middle East for roughly 60 per cent of the urea imports, the lifeblood of our crops. Shipments are being delayed or cancelled. Experts warn that the window to avoid impacts on the 2026 season is closing fast. The coalition saw this coming. We committed $250 million to the NAIF to kickstart domestic urea production via the Perdaman project near Karratha. We acted to ensure we weren't at the mercy of global instability. This government, however, has no plan for domestic production or a serious national food security strategy. If our farmers cannot access fertiliser, the cost of living in the cities will skyrocket. But it is the regional producer who will go bankrupt first. Finally, we look at the EU free trade agreement—free trade that's not so free.”
“Of course, they are all in the regions. National prices have hit record highs. For a family in Sydney, this is a budget strain. For a fisher or a farmer in my electorate or a truckie moving across the Nullarbor, it is a threat to their very livelihood. We have a full-time COP president and a part-time energy minister in Chris Bowen. He appears to be asleep at the wheel. On one day the government tells us there is no problem. On the next, there's a national crisis. This confusion is shredding public confidence. If stocks are as strong as they claim, then this is a staggering failure of supply chain management. Instead of blaming farmers and businesses, the government need to level with us. Where are the daily updates? What is the plan to get fuel to the regions, where it is desperately needed? The neglect does not stop at the fuel tank.”
“I rise today on behalf of the people of regional, rural and remote South Australia, and, indeed, on behalf of every Australian who lives beyond the reach of a Metro bus or a train line. When the Prime Minister stood on the podium on election night, he made a solemn vow to the Australian people to govern for all Australians. It was a tidy phrase designed for a city sound bite. But, nearly four years later, that promise has been exposed. The hard truth is that this prime minister has forgotten the regions. He's governing for the inner city cafes and high-rise boardrooms, while the families and farmers who grow our food and haul our produce are being treated as an afterthought in the midst of a fuel crisis. Look at the chaos at our bowsers. As of Tuesday, nearly 10 per cent of bowsers in SA are out of fuel.”
“I commend his immense sacrifice, bravery and resilience, and I wish him safe travels as he conquers the high seas and safely returns home to us in South Australia.”
“What makes the story truly remarkable is his vessel, Immortal Game . A property developer with no prior building experience, Dan constructed this boat entirely in his driveway. As I mentioned, Dan has roots tracing back to the proud city of Port Lincoln, where he first learned to sail. On last report, he was leading the second leg of this race, bound for Fiji. He survives on 40-minute sleep cycles and has already overcome immense challenges from complex immigration hurdles to dangerous encounters with orcas. When he completes this year-long voyage, Dan plans to write a book, share his journey through motivational speaking and inspire the next generation of young, aspiring sailors in Port Lincoln.”
“We've now heard more than 400 petrol stations across Australia have run out of fuel, with my constituents in Grey—fishers, farmers, families and now miners—being the hardest hit. Minister Bowen has said time and time again that there is no fuel supply issue. There's nothing to see here, apparently! What a load of baloney. I rise today to honour an extraordinary South Australian, 41-year-old Dan Turner of Port Lincoln. Right now, hundreds of kilometres off the coast of South America, Dan is floating alone in the sea, realising his dream of sailing around the whole world. He is one of just 15 competitors in the gruelling Mini Globe Race. This massive five-leg journey spans around 50,000 kilometres. Competitors navigate tiny 5.8-metre class globe yachts, with the event starting and finishing in Antigua.”
“Chris Bowen's fuel crisis isn't just inconveniencing Australians or pulling the handbrake on our economy; it is risking lives. In regional, rural and remote Australia, the Royal Flying Doctor Service provides a critical medical service for Australians. But, unfortunately, Australia's part time energy minister, Chris Bowen, and his inability to take responsibility and resolve Australia's fuel crisis has put this service and these patients at risk. His inaction has forced the RFDS to plan out what services will be cut when the bowsers run dry. Minister Bowen needs to take responsibility and fix this problem. He has been changing his message from day to day, spending more time blaming Australian families and businesses than doing something about the issue.”
“My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. I refer to the front page of today's Sydney Morning Herald with an article titled, 'States warn Albanese of fuel ration confusion'. Have any state and territory energy ministers requested that the federal government prepare a fuel-rationing plan?”
“The response from the Prime Minister: silence, nothing, tumbleweeds. The conflict in the Middle East didn't drive up childcare costs by 11 per cent; the Middle East didn't cause $1 trillion in debt—Labor did.”
“Let's talk about energy. Minister Chris Bowen's wind- and solar- only approach ideology is steamrolling common sense. We see electricity prices up 32 per cent in this year. We see a fuel supply chain in shambles. One day, the government says, 'There is plenty of supply'; the next day, there is a national crisis. They blame Australians for buying too much petrol rather than ensuring the supply chain works. When my colleague Angus Taylor was the energy minister, he didn't make excuses. He got on the phone, worked with suppliers, and ensured fuel reached the families and farmers who needed it. He understood that he needed a backbone to run an economy, not just a printing press. We have offered a bipartisan taskforce to control spending. We have called for a revitalised Charter of Budget Honesty.”
“Because this government refuses to stop spending, the Reserve Bank has been forced to do the heavy lifting. We have seen 14 interest rate rises under Labor. These aren't just numbers on a page; they represent an extra $27,000 a year for the average mortgage holder. That is the Labor tax on every Australian family with a home loan. The RBA governor hasn't ruled out a recession because of how this government has mismanaged the economy. While families are cutting back on meat, cancelling holidays and struggling with school costs, this government refuses to live within its means. We are forced to tighten our belts—so should the government. Look at the wreckage of their policies. Insurance is up 39 per cent; energy is up more than 40 per cent, up 32 per cent in this year alone; rent is up 22 per cent; and food is up 16 per cent.”
“When the government spends recklessly, it competes with every Australian family for every resource, driving prices higher. Government spending is now at a 40-year high outside of a recession. Labor's debt is ticking towards a staggering $1 trillion. To put that into perspective, Australians are now paying more than $50,000 every single minute just to service the interest on Labor's debt. That's $50,000 a minute that isn't going to hospitals, schools or tax relief, and it's not even paying down the principal. The way that I like to relate this to individuals is from a workforce point of view. In South Australia, if you collect the Labor state debt and the Labor federal debt and put it together, the average South Australian worker now owes their governments more than $100,000.”
“The government keeps looking for a global excuse, but the data tells a different story. Inflation in Australia is now higher than in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany and Japan. Are we to believe the Middle East crisis only affects Australia? Of course not. The difference isn't what's happening in the world; it's what's happening in this budget. This inflation right now is homegrown. It is the direct result of a prime minister addicted to spending and a treasurer who continues to put debt petrol on the inflation fire. Think of the economy like a local market. If the government floods that market with billions of dollars of new money while the amount of goods stays the same, prices go up. It is simple maths.”
“Australian families are at breaking point. From the kitchen tables of my electorate to the check-out counters across the country, the story is the same. Australians are working harder than ever, yet they are falling further behind. Under this Labor government, we have seen the biggest falls in living standards in the entire developed world. But, instead of taking responsibility, what do we hear from the Prime Minister and the Treasurer? The latest trick is to point fingers overseas. They want you to believe that your mortgage is up and your grocery bill is skyrocketing because of the Middle East crisis. Let's be crystal clear. The inflation we are experiencing right now is not a product of the Middle East—that's coming. The cost-of-living crisis was not imported. It was manufactured right here in Canberra.”
“And this is a good thing, because sovereign capability in Australia is extremely important, whether it's submarines, steelworks or making fertiliser. Right now, in the current fuel and fertiliser crisis, we're seeing what happens when we don't make stuff here. We must support AUKUS for the good of Australia and the safety of Australians and the broader Asia-Pacific region. AUKUS has wide-reaching impacts across Australia, not just in South Australia.”
“I'd like to acknowledge, along with the member for Spence, the member for Sturt and member for Adelaide, the great work that this government is doing to support AUKUS, which, of course, started under the coalition. I also acknowledge the initial $3.9 billion investment in the submarine construction yard at Osborne in South Australia, my home state, to deliver the infrastructure needed to build at least eight nuclear powered SSN AUKUS submarines here in Australia, which is a fantastic initiative. The South Australian Osborne Submarine Construction Yard will begin construction in 2030, and this will be the home of Australia's domestic submarine-building capabilities. The funding of $3.9 billion is the first stage towards $30 billion worth of work to get the yard up and running.”
“Critics suggest this reinforces an outdated model or that it removes incentives to enter the workforce. But this makes no sense. This is not about forcing anyone into a specific role. This is about choice. It is about removing the financial penalty for a family that chooses or is forced to have a parent at home when their children are young. We must reform this inflexible system. We must recognise that families are the foundational building blocks of our society, not just individuals to be taxed at the highest possible marginal rate by an aggressive Labor Treasury. It is time to share the burden fairly. It is time to value the sacrifices of parents. It is time to bring some common sense to taxation.”
“That means migration contributed to 88 per cent of the growth in my great state of South Australia. One of the key issues is child care and regional South Australia—or, should I say, the lack thereof. My electorate of Grey faces a severe childcare shortage that forces secondary earners to stay home instead of working. It's deeply unfair that the system punishes families who simply have no childcare options, while favouring those who do. Income splitting gives tangible monetary value to the incredible work done by these stay-at-home parents. It incentivises those in this position not only to feel financially comfortable enough to have more children but also to stay in the regions that they otherwise might have to leave to find child care.”
“Income splitting would allow a couple to divide their income before tax is calculated, just as they do in other modern economies. Income splitting is already a reality for the wealthy. Through family trusts, those in certain professions can legally distribute income to spouses and adult children to ease their tax burden. But a standard wage earner is locked out. Income splitting would democratise this system. It would level the playing field. But this is about more than just economics. This is about our national future. We are facing a declining birth rate. We are increasingly reliant on migration to sustain our growth. If we want young couples to start and grow their families, we must stop penalising them for it. In the year 2025, South Australia grew by approximately 19,500 people, with a natural increase of 2,700.”
“The other parent is at home doing the vital, exhausting work of raising their children. Because our tax system treats them as isolated individuals rather than as a family unit, this household pays $88,000 in tax. That is over $20,000 more. While we're on the topic of tax, I'd love governments, no matter their colour, to index the tax brackets. Labor's inflation means that more and more tax is raised each year due to our antiquated tax system. The current approach is punitive. It punishes single-earner families. It ignores the reality that, in a household, income is shared, expenses are shared, and sacrifices are also shared. Should the tax burden not be shared as well? The solution is practical and is already staring us in the face.”
“Thanks to the member for Kennedy, Bob Katter, for raising this motion on income splitting. Let's talk about fairness—not the kind of fairness that gets you political soundbites but the quiet, everyday fairness that happens, or fails to happen, around the kitchen tables of Australian homes. Let us consider a simple scenario. Imagine two households living side-by-side in any suburb or regional town in my electorate. In house No. 1 we have a couple. Both are in paid employment. They have no children. Together, they bring home a combined income of $250,000. Under our current tax system, they will pay approximately $67,000 in combined tax. Now look at house No. 2. This family also has a household income of $250,000. But, here, only one parent is in the paid workforce.”
“Key coordinating bodies have been absorbed back into the department, severely reducing oversight. We must shift from a focus of inputs and short-term announcements to relentless focus on results and outcomes. I call on the government to strengthen transparency in funding. Every dollar spent must be tied to clear, measurable outcomes and evaluation. Community based services must be prioritised as our best place to engage locals practically and accessibly. A consistent national framework for accountability must be reinstated so programs can be properly assessed and improved over time. Australians deserve a system that measures success by lives saved, not just by money spent.”
“Despite these essential services and fantastic organisations, vast and dangerous gaps remain across the electorate of Grey, and it's because of these remaining gaps and the staggering human reality of nine Australians losing their lives to suicide every single day that we must look critically at how national resources are being deployed. More than 150 Australians attempt to take their lives each day. When the coalition was in government, we proudly backed a $2 billion mental health and suicide prevention plan. We expanded the headspace network to over 150 centres, many in Grey, and funded 40 adult mental health services to support people closer to home. In stark contrast, recent years have seen a retreat. The current government has reduced Medicare funded mental health sessions from 20 to 10 at a time of growing demand.”
“These services are essential lifelines. But communities like Streaky Bay are a long way away from Port Lincoln or Whyalla, and these are the sorts of communities that are missing out. I encourage the government to focus on these smaller communities in the more remote and regional parts of Australia and indeed South Australia. Earlier this year, I had the privilege of speaking with April and Georgia, incredible youth advocates from ReachOut Australia. They reminded me of the vital importance of safe, anonymous online support for our young people navigating complex modern challenges. I too, in another career, helped the Black Dog Institute develop an app for mental health in our young people in this country.”
“Just down the road in Elliston, a community of less than 1½-thousand, they've had three suicides in recent times, ranging from teenagers to locals in their 70s. Our farmers, teachers, ag workers and regional families are grappling with immense, compounding pressure, and we all feel it. From soaring fuel prices to the unforgiving reality of drought, the weight on their shoulders is heavy. Too often in the country, a culture of suffering and silence prevails. People shoulder impossible burdens completely alone, and they do not ask for help when they desperately need it. I must acknowledge the tireless work of my predecessor, Rowan Ramsey, whose dedicated advocacy secured headspace centres in Port Lincoln, Whyalla, Port Augusta and Port Pirie. I also acknowledge him for getting a Medicare mental health clinic set up in Port Pirie.”
“I'd like to acknowledge the member for Bowman, Henry Pike, for bringing this important matter to this chamber. I'd like to acknowledge the immense pain felt by those who have lost loved ones to suicide. I bring this topic to this chamber today with the utmost respect for their grief and their ongoing trauma. In regional Australia, including communities like Streaky Bay and the neighbouring Elliston district, the heartbreak of severe mental health issues is palpable. Recently, those communities have endured an agonising series of losses. The beautiful community of Streaky Bay on the Far West Coast is incredible. I encourage everyone to go and visit this amazing town. But this community of less than 2½-thousand people has had seven suicides in the last two months alone. For a community of that size, that is absolutely unacceptable.”
“Since 2008 they have supported 1.2 million families, yet their funding cycle has been slashed to just 12 months, making long-term planning impossible. This $14.8 million investment is vital to upgrade their system and maintain their 24/7 services. Regional women deserve certainty. They deserve care where they live. It is time the government stop abandoning regional South Australia.”
“South Australians were excited to have a health minister from their home state, yet South Australia continues to be at the bottom of Mark Butler's list, with regional South Australia even lower. The system of allocating our clinic-per-primary-health-network is fundamentally flawed when our network covers a vast portion of the continent. This lack of foresight extends across regional women's health care, including maternal support. Again, I'm calling on the government to commit to the Australian Breastfeeding Association's four-year $14.8 million funding proposal. The ABA has six local groups right here in Grey, and in the last financial year alone, that 24/7 helpline fielded more than 55,000 calls.”
“Anna highlights: Our clinic prides itself on multidisciplinary care, however, workforce issues are still often unavoidable with rural retention a national issue. Our GPs are perfectly capable of dealing with the holistic management of period pain, yet the government provides them with little to no support to do so. We must listen to patients who have endometriosis, like Endometriosis Australia SA ambassador Deanna Flynn Wallis. She shared her reality, stating: The symptoms, journey, medical gaslighting, and life implications are beyond exhausting for so many. And: South Australia truly needs more clinics, and it is my sincere hope that we get them, especially for our regional warriors. We in the regions just put up with being second-class citizens, but enough is enough.”
“There is no longer a ferry service in Wallaroo, and there are no regional airports in Kadina. When regional women face severe abdominal pain and struggle with infertility and chronic nausea, we are essentially telling them to endure a road trip to get help, to rely on the Patient Assisted Transport Scheme to send them to Adelaide instead of treating them locally. Monica Forlano, the chair of Endometriosis Australia, rightfully points out: With endometriosis affecting at least one in seven Australian women and an average diagnosis delay of seven years, expanding access to specialist clinics in regions and outer suburbs is absolutely vital. Local medical professionals are feeling the strain. Dr Anna Kearney from Kadina Medical Associates notes: No new clinics being announced in South Australia was a disappointing, but not unexpected result.”
“I've stated previously that the Primary Health Network allocation for country SA has a population of about 497,000 people. That's 259,000 women. Yet the single clinic in Kadina is expected to service them all, from Ceduna to Port Lincoln and all the way to Roxby Downs and Coober Pedy. Are people going to drive for seven hours for an appointment? No, I don't think they are, especially when diesel costs $3.20 a litre in Coober Pedy right now. That's more than $350 for a tank of fuel. To exclude South Australia from these new clinics is yet another example of how regional South Australia has been forgotten. Driving for hours to access essential services is unacceptable for an electorate that covers 92.3 per cent of our state. The sheer logistics are punishing.”
“I rise today to speak on the government's Women's Health Package. I acknowledge that, 12 months into this package, it is a positive step that more than 660,000 women have accessed more than two million scripts for contraceptives, hormone therapies and endometriosis treatments on the PBS. But, while those numbers look good on paper here in Canberra, they mask a glaring divide. When it comes to comprehensive care, regional Australia has been entirely left off the map. Nowhere is this more evident than in the treatment of endometriosis. Last year the government announced 11 new endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics. Do you know how many of these clinics were in South Australia? Zero. There are currently only two clinics in South Australia, one in all of regional South Australia, which is in Kadina.”
“We must not create silly rules that stop them from doing this important work. Our farmers are tired. Our land is hurting. These feral pests threaten our roads, our towns and our whole way of life. It is time for Canberra to wake up and listen to the locals to fund real culling solutions—solutions like the Peterborough abattoir. We cannot afford to wait another single minute. Action is required right now from our leaders. Let us protect our great state.”
“Down in the south-east and the Adelaide Hills, they break fences, eat crops and cause crashes on our roads. I want to take a moment to thank the great work of the Foundation for Rabbit Free Australia. Rabbits remain our worst pest. They threaten 300 species and cost our farmers over $200 million every single year. Groups like Rabbit Free Australia do vital work to protect our native bilby and fight back against the rabbit plague. I also want to praise our local graziers, our wildlife experts and our traditional owners. They fight this tough battle every single day. To do this, they rely on firearms. We must have a commonsense approach to guns for licensed farmers and locals. Their daily pest control is the only thing stopping these animal numbers from exploding between big government culls.”
“But it costs too much money to round them up. A whole truckload of goats might only sell for $1,500. That does not even begin to pay for the diesel, the motorbikes or the workers needed to catch them. Then we have feral pigs. They are spreading fast, even moving into the northern Flinders Ranges. These pigs cost our farming sector $160,000 every single year. They are tough animals. A single pig can have litters of 13 piglets multiple times a year. They take over water troughs. They even eat newborn lambs. People are now seeing them wandering into our towns like Hawker, Quorn and Coober Pedy. Feral deer are just as bad. A few years ago we had 40,000 deer across South Australia. Hard work has removed 28,000 of them, but the rest are breeding fast.”
“The Labor government and the greenies have completely dropped the ball. Numbers are out of control. With some of these species, we have a value chain. We can't just rely on helicopters shooting at them. That's a terrible waste. Instead, we must fund the mustering of these camels to export them. We have a fantastic but empty abattoir in Peterborough. We could use it to turn a massive pest into a good trade. I acknowledge the current trade they have with the Turkiye Defence Force at the abattoir in Peterborough. It's not just camels that are causing trouble. Out at Quondong Station, the owners are fighting a hard war against tens of thousands of feral goats. The farm property covers 147,000 hectares. Already this year they have had to cull 5,000 goats. Goats strip the ground bare. They even reach up to eat the leaves on trees.”
“Today, I stand here to speak for the hardworking people of regional and remote SA. We are facing a huge crisis. Feral animals are tearing apart our beautiful land. From the APY Lands to our far north-east borders, pests are destroying our farms, our native bush and our transport roads. Kangaroos, pigs, dogs, brumbies, camels, cats, rabbits, wombats, deer and goats are all causing significant damage. The people in Canberra do not want to admit how bad this problem is, but the families of the farmers living out there see the awful truth every single day. We must act to fix this crisis now before it is too late for everyone. Right now, there are more than 300,000 feral camels wandering all across Australia. In the APY Lands, they smash fences and drain our precious water.”
“That is for the APY Lands and the local government areas of Barmera, Berri, Ceduna, Cleve, Coober Pedy, Flinders Ranges, Orroroo, Carrieton, Peterborough and Port Augusta. It was disappointing to see Mount Remarkable council not included in that area; I'll do my best to have that included. Thank you to everyone who reached out with their stories, photos and their images of road damage. It all helped build the case. We still have challenges ahead, including liquidity of some of these small councils, but this is a good start. I'll keep fighting for the small regional councils.”
“Approximately 51 kilometres of road have been damaged across 20 different roads. They estimate the cost of repair at $2.3 million. Flinders Ranges Council said this flooding is the largest event since 2007. Much of their road network is still inaccessible for the council even to assess the damage. They estimate repair costs of $7 million to $10 million. These communities have been pleading for support for financial assistance to get their roads back to standard. And, finally, I'm pleased to share some good news as of this morning. Following my meetings with Emily Bourke, Catherine King and Kristy McBain, as well as strong engagement from the impacted councils, the South Australian and Commonwealth governments have activated disaster recovery funding arrangements for recent flooding events.”
“Giles now represents 66 per cent of South Australia. My good friend Tania Stock in the Yorke Peninsula where I live is such a hard-working, sensible and good person. We've seen her already as a councillor on the Yorke Peninsula for some time now. She'll be a great representative for the Yorke Peninsula and parts of the mid-north. And finally Penny Pratt is the hardest working politician in Australia—now the member for Frome as it moves into Ngadjuri. We must support Penny Pratt. I certainly will be this coming Saturday in Clare. As I said in this place last week, recent torrential rain brought devastating flooding to rural and regional South Australia, and remote communities are now suffering the consequences. I've been in contact with affected councils, and they've been crying out for help. Take Mount Remarkable council.”