Mr PEDERICK ( Hammond ) ( 11:48 ): I rise to speak to the motion that the report of the Social Development Committee, entitled Review of the Statutes Amendment (Recidivist Young Offenders and Youth Parole Board) Act 2009, be noted. The committee commenced this inquiry in August and we received a total of seven submissions, with SAPOL presenting verbal evidence. Hearings were concluded on 13 October 2014.

Adrian Pederick MP, member for Hammond, was on hand at the Premier’s Reading Challenge award ceremony at the Adelaide Zoo on Friday 21 November.

The Premier’s Reading Challenge continues to be popular with students and their parents, with more students than ever picking up books to get involved.

The Weatherill Labor Government is the only state that has failed to negotiate a Project Agreement through the Federal Government’s Murray Darling Basin Economic Diversification Program, despite funding being announced in August 2013.

In Parliament this week, Liberal Member for Hammond, Adrian Pederick, questioned the Weatherill Labor Government on when it would sign off on the 21 projects nominated for the Murray-Darling Basin Regional Economic Diversification Program.

Mr PEDERICK ( Hammond ) ( 12:04 ): I too rise to support the motion by the member for Stuart:

That this house recognises White Ribbon Day and encourages all men to swear an oath to never commit, excuse or remain silent about violence against women.

Mr PEDERICK ( Hammond ) ( 16:27 ): I rise to speak to the Statutes Amendment (Decriminalisation of Sex Work) Bill. I commend the speech that the member for Hartley has just delivered. Certainly, as the representative for the seat of Hammond, I will not be supporting this bill because I believe, too, that if the decriminalisation of prostitution happened it would break down society as we know it. I have been lobbied far and wide and by a lot of my local people, including my local churches and other groups.

Mr PEDERICK ( Hammond ) ( 15:08 ): Supplementary, sir: my question is to the Minister for Emergency Services. Does the government have any arrangements or procedures in place so that contractors with uncontracted firebombing aircraft can react to a situation so that we do not have another situation as happened in Wangary where a pilot was not allowed up because he was an uncontracted water bomber contractor?

Mr PEDERICK ( Hammond ) ( 12:21 ): I rise to support the Public Finance and Audit (Treasurer's Instructions) Amendment Bill 2014. This is a bill that was introduced into parliament only on 29 October. The bill is attempting to clarify matters relating to the application and scope of Treasurer's Instructions and makes minor amendments of a statute law revision nature. The amendments seek to improve general understanding about the relationship between Treasurer's Instructions and provisions of an act providing a public authority with functions and powers.

Mr PEDERICK ( Hammond ) ( 12:54 ): I rise to speak to the Stamp Duties (Off-the-plan Apartments) Amendment Bill 2014, and note that it was introduced on 29 October 2014 and concerns amendments to amend the stamp duty concession for apartments bought off the plan to include the inner metropolitan area. I note that back in 2012 the current Labor government introduced some stamp duty relief for off-the-plan apartment sales in the city and also at Bowden and Gilberton. This provides a full stamp duty concession for off-the-plan contracts, entered into up to 30 June 2014, and these are capped at a stamp duty payable on a $500,000 apartment, and that stamp duty is $21,330. There is a partial concession for the ensuing two years.

Mr PEDERICK ( Hammond ) ( 16:35 ): I rise to acknowledge the effort by the now retired member for Davenport (Hon. Iain Evans) and note that he is in this place. I note that Iain was elected to the seat of Davenport in 1993, after the end of his father's 25-year political career. During his career, Iain held many positions. As minister, he was a member of the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council, and coming from the seat of Hammond, I am obviously very interested in anything to do with the Murray-Darling.

Mr PEDERICK ( Hammond ) ( 15:42 ): I advise the house that I will not be the lead speaker on this bill. Today I rise to speak to the Statutes Amendment (Energy Consumers Australia) Bill. It seeks to amend the Australian Energy Market Commission Establishment Act 2004, the National Electricity (South Australia) Act 1996 and the National Gas (South Australia) Act 2008. I note that this bill was introduced by the Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy on 15 October 2014 and the intent of the bill is to establish a national energy advocacy body, Energy Consumers Australia or ECA.