Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (11:58): By leave, I move my motion in an amended form:

That this house—

(a) acknowledges that ANZAC Day was commemorated on 25 April 2023;

(b) pays its respects to the families of those ANZACs who tragically lost their lives during the Gallipoli campaign; and

(c) remembers all Australian personnel and animals who have been injured or killed in action.

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (15:08): My question is to the Minister for Regional Roads. Are there plans to duplicate or make improvements to the Sturt Highway from Shea-Oak Log to the Victorian border? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr PEDERICK: Thirty-six lives have been lost on this road since 2018.

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (15:05): My question is to the Minister for Regional Roads. Are there plans to duplicate or make improvements to the Dukes Highway from Tailem Bend to the Victorian border? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (15:34): I rise today to talk about the Strathalbyn emergency department. Today, I was proud to table a petition with 1,452 signatures from the good people of Strathalbyn and surrounding districts. The petition noted that the emergency department of the Strathalbyn and District Health Service was closed during the COVID-19 pandemic due to its co-location with an aged-care facility. The request is that the state government immediately reopen the emergency department at the Strathalbyn and District Health Service to its pre-COVID operating hours and provide whatever workforce is necessary to operate this facility.

On the first day of Parliament sitting following the Autumn break, Member for Hammond, Adrian Pederick MP has tabled signatures from an ongoing petition to reopen the Strathalbyn Emergency Department.  

The community of Strathalbyn can look forward to improved netball and tennis courts following a successful bid for funding under the 2022-23 Community Recreation and Sport Facilities Program.

Member for Hammond, Adrian Pederick MP is calling on the State Government to re-open the emergency department at the Strathalbyn & District Health Service three years after its closure during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (15:07): I rise to talk about the recovery process in regard to what is happening with Murraylands and River Murray communities, but certainly will focus on what is happening in my neck of the woods in the Mid Murray and Lower Murray areas. We see town levees coming down in Mannum, which is a good sight to see as part of the recovery process moving forward.

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (15:55): I rise to speak to the First Nations Voice Bill. I note, as has been indicated earlier in the proceedings, we are opposing this bill, but we do not do that lightly at all. I certainly do not believe that this is the answer. We currently have 191 registered bodies working with Aboriginal South Australians right now, so what makes me wonder is what is going on that the myriad complex situations that affront our Aboriginal community, as the rest of our community—why is that not working?

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (17:45): I am proud and privileged here today to support this motion in support of Ukraine and all its people:

That this house—

(a) notes with great sadness that 24 February 2023 marks the first anniversary of the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine;

(b) deplores the actions of Russia invading Ukraine and calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the total withdrawal of Russian forces;

(c) notes the terrible toll caused by the war with international estimates of more than 40,000 deaths, more than 90,000 casualties and the displacement of more than 14 million people;

(d) affirms the resolutions of the 11^th emergency session of the United Nations General Assembly, calling for the full protection of civilians, including humanitarian personal, journalists and vulnerable persons;

(e) congratulates South Australians for the warmth and friendship they have shown Ukrainians, displaced by the conflict, who have settled in our great state; and

(f) resolves to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes, to ensure peace and independence is returned for the Ukrainian people—SLAVA UKRAINI!