Member for Hammond, Adrian Pederick today brought the Farm Debt Mediation Bill to vote in Parliament and due to the lack of support from the Labor Government, including the Minister Agriculture, the bill was not passed.

“The lack of support from the Weatherill Labor Government and Minister Bignell is disappointing to say the least,” said Mr Pederick.

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 22 September 2016.)

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (16:43): I rise today to speak to the Biological Control (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill 2016. The bill amends the Biological Control Act 1986 to specifically include viruses and subviral agents within the definition of an organism. In regard to the Biological Control Act 1996, South Australia is part of a national scheme of mirror legislation based on the commonwealth legislation, the Biological Control Act of 1984.

Mr PEDERICK ( Hammond ) ( 12:34 ): Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and I, too, will acknowledge your marathon effort in the last day or so. Well done. I would like to acknowledge the motion from the member for Reynell that this house wishes well all Australian athletes, particularly those from South Australia, competing in the Olympics and Paralympic Games in Rio. Certainly it has been outlined that many of the Olympic athletes came from South Australia, and we do have a very good quota of them, and I commend them for everything they do, whether it is at the Olympic level or the Paralympic level.

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 3 November 2016.)

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (11:23): I thank the members for MacKillop and Flinders, and the Hon. David Ridgway in the other place for bringing this bill to the parliament. As I said in my previous contribution, the purpose of this bill is to create a legally enforceable bank mediation mechanism for primary producers. With regard to the mediation, it is a structured negotiation process where the mediator, as a neutral and independent person, assists the farmer and the creditor in attempting to reach agreement on the present arrangements and future conduct of financial relations between them.

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 2 November 2016.)

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (12:13): I rise to speak to the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration (Gender Identity) Amendment Bill 2016. This is No. 171, and I note that the previous not quite identical bill, No. 142, failed in this parliament, with a tight vote of 19-all and the Speaker helping to vote it down. I have not changed my position on this legislation.

Mr PEDERICK ( Hammond ) ( 11:37 ): I rise to speak to the 118th report of the Natural Resources Committee, entitled Annual Report July 2015-June 2016. Generally, I think the Natural Resources Committee is one of the best committees in this place. I have never officially been on the committee, but I have always been welcomed along on trips. I salute the Presiding Member, the member for Ashford. It is a good, welcoming committee for other members to make their points and to be part of fact-finding visits.

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 3 November 2016.)

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (20:02): I rise to speak to the Death with Dignity Bill 2016. It may come as no surprise that I will not be supporting the bill, which is a consistent stand I have taken for the whole time I have been in this place in regard to so-called voluntary euthanasia. I note that this bill is, I think, the 15th attempt in this parliament to legalise voluntary euthanasia, and I am a bit—

Mr PEDERICK ( Hammond ) ( 12:01 ): I congratulate the member for Bright on this excellent motion:

That this house acknowledges the incredible work of Surf Life Saving South Australia and its 20 clubs around the state's precious coastline, and in particular—

(a) the time spent patrolling our beaches throughout the 2015-16 and 2016-17 surf lifesaving seasons;

(b) the commitment to serving coastline communities; and

(c) the ongoing efforts to ensure our beaches are safe for South Australian families.

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 22 September 2016.)

Mr PEDERICK ( Hammond ) ( 12:47 ): I rise to make a contribution in regard to the Relationships Register Bill 2016. If it goes through, the bill will allow for the registration of relationships of couples essentially in any relationship and therefore demonstrate their status when dealing with other agencies. In regard to that, a friend of mine and her partner used to live in my electorate of Goolwa. They have moved out of my electorate, but I ran into them socially. They were concerned about their status (they are a little bit later in life), and she was concerned about recognition if either of them passed away. I said, 'Yes, let's see what we can do about that.' I believe this bill essentially addresses that issue.

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 21 September 2016.)

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (19:53): I rise to speak to the Adoption (Review) Amendment Bill 2016. I want to make a few comments about adoption generally before I go to the heart of the bill. I note that between 1990 and 1991, 103 adoptions took place in South Australia. This figure includes all known international figures and local figures. In 2014-15, there were only 17 adoptions; however, the statistics indicate that 14 of these were intercountry adoptions.