Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (16:50): I, too, rise to support this bill for a cross-border commissioner. It has been well delivered in this house by previous speakers and this is something that I believe we should complete in haste.

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (17:10): I rise to speak on the estimates process, sadly from opposition. It was an interesting time, as has been discussed, where you try to get answers from the government. I am very privileged to be the shadow minister for veterans' affairs, emergency services and regional roads.

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (20:11): I rise to speak to the budget bill, the Appropriation Bill, and note that with the addition of the Supply Bill the total state budget for the coming 12 months is $23½ billion. It is interesting to note that with a change of government there are a lot of projects that come over that we started, and thankfully most of them are ongoing.

Mr ELLIS (Narungga) (10:37): I move:

That this house—

(a) recognises the serious shortage of doctors and other medical staff in regional South Australia;

(b) acknowledges that regional South Australians are just as worthy of access to quality health care as those in the metropolitan areas;

(c) notes that incentivising doctors in regional South Australia has not worked and that it is time to guarantee it;

(d) calls on the state government to ensure the equal distribution of general practitioner doctors around regional South Australia, now and in the future; and

(e) calls on the state government to establish a dedicated department of regional health to support access to quality health care across South Australia.

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (12:50): I rise to support the South Australian Motorsport (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill 2022. I note that the South Australian Motorsport Board was axed in 2014 by the Weatherill Labor government following a review of state government boards. Quite a few boards got the chop at the time. It was determined that this board, among others, was creating unnecessary work for the Public Service. As indicated by the member for Hartley, the member for Mawson at the time thought, 'If the government can run this, why do we need a board?' He must have had a change of heart.

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (11:59): I rise to speak to the National Gas (South Australia) (Market Transparency) Amendment Bill. We note that this bill, as has been stated by our lead spokesman, the shadow minister, will improve transparency in the eastern and northern Australian gas markets. This bill was previously introduced by the former Minister for Energy and Mining on 9 September 2021 but, as parliament prorogued, it could not be voted on.

The Opposition fears funding for South Australia's regional roads is an afterthought for the Malinauskas Labor Government, with initiatives in this area making up a tiny six per cent of the total roads budget.

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (14:47): My question again is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Can the minister tell the house when the Strathalbyn Hospital emergency department will reopen?

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (14:40): My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Can the minister tell me when the heated pool at the Murray Bridge Soldiers' Memorial Hospital will reopen to those who use the pool for hydrotherapy and rehabilitation? With your leave, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Ms HUTCHESSON (Waite) (12:51): I move:

That this house—

(a) notes that 4 May 2022 was International Firefighters’ Day;

(b) remembers the firefighters who have lost their lives while serving our community;

(c) expresses condolences to the family and friends of Louise Hincks who tragically died in January this year while fighting a fire at Coles in the state’s South-East; and

(d) shows its support and appreciation for firefighters who put themselves at risk and work hard every day to protect our community.