Tom Venning (Grey, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

The lower Eyre Peninsula is the only place in Australia with comparable population or economic output that doesn't have doppler radar coverage. The importance of radar and accurate near-real-time and real-time forecasting cannot be overstated. Sure, it's important for individuals but also for: agriculture, where we have some of the most productive land in the country; fishing, where Port Lincoln is called home by the Southern Hemisphere's largest fishing fleet; tourism, like international yacht races in Boston Bay; rocket launching, a growing industry at Whalers Way; and, importantly, emergency services, helping us mitigate what we saw in 2005 when nine people were killed. While I thank Minister Watt's office for their constructive engagement on this issue, we must not delay this any further. Finally, I want to thank Trevor Smith, Ryan Viney, Ken Webber and Sam Telfer MP for their continued advocacy. The time for radar is now.

Last month, on Rural Women's Day, we celebrated the backbone of our regional communities—the rural women who hold our towns together. It was a privilege to attend Rural Women's Day celebrations at Orroroo, celebrating the contributions of our local women. Last week, I met with locals Stephanie March from MERCI CO, Alex Thomas from Plant a Seed for Safety and Nikki Atkinson from Liv Sienne Fashion here in Parliament House. It was amazing to have women like this stand up and fight for regional and rural health care. We don't need the world's best access; we just want equity.

The stories of these incredible women hit hard. Stephanie's son has a rare chronic disease, requiring constant travel to the city for care, putting a constant strain on their entire family on the Yorke Peninsula. Alex faced an impossible choice when her late father fell through the cracks in regional health care: either switch off his dialysis or move to the city. That's a choice no daughter should face. These aren't just statistics; these are the daily realities our regional, rural and remote communities face. Steph and Alex are doing their part to stand up for people in regional SA, and it's time our government does the same.

Grey is an electorate full of rich history. I witness this every time I visit one of our hundreds of towns, but recently a few have hit significant milestones I would like to acknowledge. The Booleroo Centre marked its 150th birthday milestone in early October. The town's agricultural heritage remains a prominent part of its identity, and it's still an important service centre for world-leading agriculture industry. Orroroo also celebrated their 150th in October. This proud town has been a cornerstone of our region's pastoral story, serving as a vital hub for surrounding communities. And Blyth celebrated 150 years only yesterday, hosting a successful community event. For a century and a half, Blyth has supported generations of farming families. These milestones remind us that our towns aren't just dots on a map. They're communities with stories worth celebrating.

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