Mr PEDERICK ( Hammond ) ( 15:09 :00 ): My question is to the Minister for Regional Development. What will be South Australia's share of the federal $100 million commitment to the Rural R&D for Profit policy, specifically to support continued innovation in our
agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors?

Mr PEDERICK ( Hammond ) ( 16:14 :56 ): I advise the house that I will not be the lead speaker on this bill.

Dr McFetridge interjecting:

The Riverland and Mallee is the first region to be visited by members of the State Liberals Regional Affairs Committee.

The Committee has been established to hold the Weatherill Labor Government accountable with its renewed focus on and commitment to regional South Australia.

Liberal Member for Hammond and Chair of the State Liberals’ Regional Affairs Committee, Adrian Pederick, has again raised concerns in Parliament with the Weatherill Labor Government’s lack of urgency to return the Lower Lakes and Coorong back to health.

A Scoping Study managed by DEWNR to determine the best long-term solutions for managing water quality in Lake Albert, the Coorong and the Narrung Narrows is six months overdue and Mr Pederick wants the Weatherill Labor Government to make its findings public.

Mr PEDERICK ( Hammond ) ( 12:08 :55 ): I wish to support the motion by the member for Morphett:

That this house— 

(a)condemns the Housing Tenants Association for their despicable scare campaign and their misleading and deceptive conduct during the March 2014 election; and 

(b)calls on any member of parliament who assisted the Housing Trust Tenants Association in this campaign in any way, to apologise to the thousands of South Australians who were caused great distress as a result of this disgraceful campaign.

Mr PEDERICK ( Hammond ) ( 10:49 :18 ): I rise today to speak to the Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation (Firefighters) Amendment Bill. I think this is a very important bill. It is about seeking equity for Country Fire Service volunteers, and I know there are members of the Country Fire Service on this side of the house as well as the other side.

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (15:43): I rise today to speak about the Lower Lakes and Coorong and, in particular, the scoping study into the future management of Lake Albert. This is a matter I have raised a number of times in this place and it is extremely disappointing to see the state government's lack of urgency in the completion of this important study.

Liberal Member for Hammond has welcomed news the Rockleigh CFS brigade will finally receive funding to construct a much needed community fire shed.

The $350,000 in funds was committed by Minister for Emergency Services, Tony Piccolo during his recent visit to Murray Bridge.

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (11:01): I move:

That this house expresses its deep regret at the death of Mr Henry Jones and places on record its appreciation of his long and tireless commitment to the River Murray and the Murray-Darling Basin.

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (17:30): Madam Deputy Speaker, I will acknowledge that I am not the lead speaker.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: You are not the lead speaker; thank you.