Tony Pasin (Barker, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Much of South Australia is in drought. Many regions in my electorate and the electorate of Grey are recording their lowest-ever rainfall. Livestock producers are struggling as fodder prices soar, with quality feed becoming increasingly difficult to source. Last Saturday I joined Linda Widdup and her team at Aussie Hay Runners in Tailem Bend as a convoy of 33 trucks carrying 832 bales of hay made its way to where it's needed. Over five years, Aussie Hay Runners have travelled 2.8 million kilometres in delivering feed to livestock impacted by drought, flood and fire, assisting almost 4,000 farmers. It's no small task, and I commend Linda and her organisation, together with other organisations like it.

Joining the run on Saturday and witnessing firsthand what this help means to those receiving it was truly humbling. Drought devastates regional communities, and it's important for those struggling to know that government has their back when times get desperate. But that's simply not happening in South Australia. The Premier needs to shift his focus from football festivals, car races, golf tournaments and pop concerts to dealing with the realities of what's happening in rural South Australia. Offer a fuel subsidy to help organisations like Aussie Hay Runners get the feed to the livestock that needs it—that would be a great place to start.