The Hammond Electorate has suffered a population drain impacting on the local economy, according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics.

In the 12 months, between 2015 and 2016, the Murray Mallee lost 131 people, raising concerns about the impact of high unemployment and challenges in providing career opportunities for youth in the region.

As the communities in Hammond face significant challenges in the battle against drugs, the Weatherill Government this week blocked legislation that would have allowed parents, police and child protection officers to apply to a court for mandatory treatment orders for a child addicted to illicit drugs.

The Controlled Substances (Youth Treatment Orders) Amendment Bill would have led to the establishment of a vital facility for the treatment of young people struggling with drug addiction.

Mr PEDERICK ( Hammond ) ( 17:57 ): We have had a rather historic day here today, but I rise to speak to the Emergency Management (Electricity Supply Emergencies) Amendment Bill 2017. I want to go into a little bit of the history of why we find ourselves here today: it is because of the state Labor government's headlong rush into renewables and not having a transition plan in place. It is just ridiculous that the 540-megawatt Northern power station—and in question time today the minister could not tell us how many megawatts it used to generate—was shut down last May, and it is only since then that we have had utter chaos inflicted on this state.

The State Liberals have introduced legislation to give lasting peace of mind to shack owners across the Hammond electorate.

If passed, the legislation will allow lessees of ‘life-lease’ shack sites to enter into permanent arrangements, fulfilling the State Liberal’s longstanding commitment to allowing South Australian shack owners to enjoy their properties for generations to come.

Adrian Pederick, Member for Hammond last week questioned the Minister for Transport on sections of the Mallee and Dukes Highways, which extend alongside the Tailem Bend Motorsport Park development.

“During the biggest harvest we have had in South Australia, the Department of Transport reconfigured intersections of the Tailem Bend Motorsport Park with the Mallee and Dukes Highways,” said Mr Pederick.

Member for Hammond, Adrian Pederick was advocating in Parliament last week regarding the condition of roads within the Langhorne Creek region, due to the severe damage to the roads because of flood events.

“On 02nd of March I asked the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure when the Langhorne Creek region would be receiving the much needed road maintenance to fix flood damage to local roads which occurred over six months ago,” said Mr Pederick.

Mr PEDERICK ( Hammond ) ( 12:03 ): I rise to support the motion by our leader, the member for Dunstan:

That this house expresses its concern at the state of the South Australian electricity market and in particular, notes—

(a) The state government's energy policy over the last 15 years has delivered South Australian consumers the worst outcomes in the nation;

(b) The first ever statewide electricity blackout in Australia occurred in South Australia on 28 September 2016;

(c) Electricity supply reliability in South Australia is the lowest in the nation;

(d) Electricity prices in South Australia are the highest in the nation;

(e) The impact that high household electricity prices add to cost of living pressures;

(f) The impact that high business electricity prices add to unemployment pressures;

(g) Unemployment in South Australia is the highest in the nation;

(h) both the Victorian and South Australian electricity markets were privatised at similar times , yet Victorians pay the lowest electricity prices in the nation; and

(i) the closure of the coal - fired electricity generator at Port Augusta has led to the increased importation of coal - fired electricity from Victoria.

Mr PEDERICK ( Hammond ) ( 14:33 ): My question is again to the member for Transport and Infrastructure. Can the minister inform the house when the government is going to allocate the emergency road funding that is required in the Langhorne Creek region, as a result of the flood damage some six months ago?

Mr PEDERICK ( Hammond ) ( 14:30 ): My question is to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. Can the minister inform the house what measures are being taken to ensure new sections of the Mallee and Dukes highways, alongside the Tailem Bend motorsport park, do not melt again when the temperature rises above 35º?

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 16 February 2017.)

Mr PEDERICK: Where do I go? It is no surprise that I am conservative and that I represent what I believe is a pretty conservative electorate. There are other opinions in my electorate and they have been voiced to me, which I applaud, because that is what politics is about. If you could please everyone in your community or the state, you would be a miracle person. No-one is going to be able to do that. I appreciate the people who have discussed these bills with me.