Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (21:07): I rise to speak to the Statutes Amendment (Attorney-General's Portfolio) Bill, which was introduced on 2 May 2024 by the current Attorney-General, the Hon. Kyam Maher. I agree with the contributions from this side of the house. Why are we here? Why are we here debating this bill into the night, the night before the budget, where all of a sudden this is the top priority, not dealing with payroll tax issues, not dealing with cost-of-living issues, here we are debating something that does not even need to be debated?

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (12:03): I rise to speak to the motion by the member for Colton:

That this house commends the Marshall government for scrapping payroll tax for all small businesses in South Australia, and recognises all involved in small and family businesses for their contribution to our state and economy.

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (15:41): I rise to make a contribution to the Local Nuisance and Litter Control (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill 2024. I note that two of the main amendments in this bill are impacting on the management of shopping trolleys, and the installation of air conditioners and exterior lights. I might comment on the exterior lights and air conditioners in the first instance. Urbanisation: from a country member and someone who lives far too close to a highway—it is 800 metres—I can deal with concrete for so long, but then I need to go home.

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (11:59): In the milliseconds I have left, I certainly support this work. I am disappointed that it has taken 18 months and we are only up to the second stage of the remediation works of the River Murray levees. However, it is welcomed by the community, and I hope that there is appropriate consultation with the community so that locally sourced items are used, including clay. That is a much needed measure to make sure that we do this in a cost-appropriate manner to get the best results for both stakeholders in the region and farmers. They have been frustrated by the time it has taken to get to this stage, but they do welcome this funding. I wish this project all speed.

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (15:06): I rise to talk about ANZAC Day and the commemorations that were held recently. Obviously, ANZAC Day is all about the legend of Australian service men and women over many, many years now—about 125 years if you include those who fought in the Boer War—who landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula and held on for several months. This was a battle that included 489,000 allied troops and 316,000 Turkish troops. Out of those 56,000 allied troops who were killed, there were 7½ thousand Australian troops who made the ultimate sacrifice and 18,500 were wounded. Fifty-six thousand Turkish troops were killed defending their own country. This was a fight that defined Australia.

Mr PEDERICK: Well, strange things happen. I rise to speak to the Supply Bill 2024 and note that this is to approve $7,706,000,000 so that we can keep the functions of government running until the budget is fully approved and has gone through the estimates process. This is vital for all the Public Service functions in the state, and certainly we will be supporting this bill.

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (12:17): I rise to make a contribution in regard to the consideration of the second report of the Standing Orders Committee. This has come about due to the legislation that was passed last year to establish a State Voice, which we on this side were against. Personally, I think legislation by segregation is a terrible thing, but here we are discussing the standing orders that have been worked through in regard to people of Aboriginal descent speaking to the chamber and having access to ministers and the full cabinet, if need be.

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (16:32): I rise to speak to the AUKUS (Land Acquisition) Bill 2024 and note the speed at which this legislation is hoped to be expedited through the house. It is an unusual speed and barely used. I know we had similar speed with the anti-protester legislation in the not too distant past. and I guess on the same scale as this, to a degree, was the Olympic Dam legislation several years ago where BHP was proposing to open the top up of their mine at Roxby  Downs. It would have taken years of scraper operations. I think, from memory, it was a $30 billion project and it would have really opened up and realised great access to that copper resource which has—my son did tell me because he has worked up there—somewhere over 1,200 kilometres of underground roads; it might be closer to 1,600, and it is a great boon for the state.

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (10:49): I rise on this proposal to replace what was an excellent committee in this parliament, the Aboriginal Lands Parliamentary Standing Committee. The Parliamentary Committees (Aboriginal Affairs Committee) Amendment Bill should be voted through so that we can reach out to our Aboriginal communities and have the ability to visit communities under the auspices of the parliament and look at issues, as we did. I certainly did so in the time that I was on the Aboriginal Lands Parliamentary Standing Committee, and I learnt some interesting information along the way.

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (11:27): I rise to support this motion by the member for Bragg:

That this house—

(a) notes 18 to 24 March is Harmony Week; and

(b) acknowledges the range of valuable activities undertaken in our community under the theme of 'everyone belongs'.