Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (15:05): I rise today to speak about the Country Fire Service, an organisation that is close to my heart as I am a member, as are other members in this house. A committee was proposed to be set up in the other place late last year. When that select committee was proposed, it was initially thought that we had support to get that committee up. That fell away so we held our ground, and I must congratulate the Hon. Ben Hood for getting that committee up the other day, through another forum

The Liberal Party's move to establish a Parliamentary inquiry to investigate issues within the South Australian Country Fire Service (CFS) has been successful in the Legislative Council.

Mr PEDERICK: I am only just starting, so do not worry, you can have your go. I move to support this motion by the shadow minister, the member for Morphett:

That this house—

(a) notes that South Australian working families and small businesses are enduring some of the highest power prices in the country under the Malinauskas Labor government;

(b) condemns the Malinauskas Labor government for their inaction resulting in driving sky-high power prices for South Australian working families and small businesses in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis; and

(c) condemns the Malinauskas Labor government for their costly, experimental hydrogen power plant, that will not reduce power prices for South Australian working families and small businesses, as their only energy policy.

I did note that the previous contribution from the member for Adelaide was interesting, and it sounds like it was written by the minister, the member for West Torrens, or someone from his office.

Mrs Hurn interjecting:

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (17:24): I rise to speak to the Second-hand Vehicle Dealers (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill 2023. This bill seeks to get some honesty in the second-hand vehicle department. Obviously, there is a lot of honesty in selling second-hand vehicles but sometimes there is not. This bill was introduced on 15 November last year by the Minister for Consumer and Business Affairs, and obviously it will amend the Second-hand Vehicle Dealers Act 1995.

In a massive win for farmers, the CFS has confirmed it will no longer push ahead with its plans to review the Grain Harvest Code of Practice.

While the Liberal Opposition welcomes the announcement of a flood recovery funding agreement for Lower River Murray levees, the much-needed measure has come 12 months too late.

The Liberal Opposition is calling on the Malinauskas Labor Government to urgently implement a River Murray levee management plan after it was revealed that despite 12 months since the peak of the River Murray Flood, virtually nothing has been done. 

The Minister responsible for Veterans Affairs in South Australia, Geoff Brock, has yet to comment on the disrespectful Labor public holiday legislation that removes the name "Anzac Day' and replaces it with just a date - "25 April" 

The Liberal Party will almost triple the amount of funding for the RSL's crucial employment program, which last year helped South Australian veterans earn close to $4 million of income after retiring from service.

The Opposition is calling on Peter Malinauskas to admit his mistake and recall Parliament this week for an optional sitting day to fix ridiculous Labor legislation that culls the traditional names of Anzac Day and other public holidays in favour of dates like "25 April".