South Australians living in the Hammond electorate continue to be incensed by the Weatherill Labor Government’s exorbitant increases to the Emergency Services Levy.

“I have had farmers ringing my office outraged that their bill has increased by over 600 per cent,” said Member for Hammond Adrian Pederick.

Liberal Member for Hammond and Chair of State Liberal Regional Affairs Committee, Adrian Pederick, is perplexed with a year-long study announced by the Weatherill Labor Government as part of the New Horizons Project.

The New Horizons project will involve a mix of research and field trials conducted by Primary Industries and Regions SA, farming groups, the University of South Australia and the University of Adelaide.

On Thursday 18th September 2014, Liberal Member for Hammond and Chair of the State Liberals’ Regional Affairs Committee, Adrian Pederick, introduced a motion in Parliament for Mypolonga to be included in the Fruit Fly Exclusion Zone (FFEZ).

However the Weatherill Labor Government is attempting to amend the motion which will only recognise the importance of the Mypolonga fruit fly tracking grid.

Liberal Member for Hammond and Chair of the State Liberals’ Regional Affairs Committee, Adrian Pederick, has raised a number of concerns about the outcomes from the Weatherill Labor Government’s Lake Albert Scoping Study released this week.

The year-long study, costing $740,000, has finally been released with one main recommendation – the manipulation of lake levels. Another option that emerged is the concept of ‘temporary reset pumping’.

With broken promises, job losses and tax increases, households will be hit hard in Hammond – that’s the message from the 2014 State Budget according to Liberal Member for Hammond Adrian Pederick.

“This is a budget of broken promises, increasing costs, high taxes and no jobs,” said Mr Pederick.

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.

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.

Liberal Member for Hammond, Adrian Pederick, has called on Regional Development Minister, Geoff Brock, to seek assurances from the Weatherill Labor Government about the ongoing operation of the Murray Bridge TAFE campus.

“The Murray Bridge TAFE campus is vitally important to the Murraylands region and the Minister for Regional Development needs to ensure its ongoing viability,” said Mr Pederick.

I would like to take this opportunity to recognise the valuable contribution of the many unsung heroes who volunteer their time and efforts in the Hammond community, as we celebrate National Volunteer Week.