Second Reading

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (11:09): I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

I rise to speak to the Farm Debt Mediation Bill that was introduced in the other place late last year by my colleague and good friend the Hon. David Ridgway, and I acknowledge his work in this sector. I also acknowledge that the bill happened to get the support of the Liberal Party, and all of the crossbenchers in the other place, but not the support of the government, which is disappointing, to say the least, particularly when they talk about everything that is 'premium', and the 'clean green' agricultural lands that we have, and the produce that we do grow is very good.

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 22 June 2017.)

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (17:34): I rise to speak to the Budget Measures Bill, and sometimes I feel like I live in a parallel universe in this place. We hear about jobs and the need for jobs and certainly we do need jobs. It was only several years ago that the Premier, the member for Cheltenham, indicated that he was going to attract 100,000 jobs into this state. Well, I think he might be scratching to get 8,000 jobs. Now we have all these so-called job attraction initiatives. Do you know what? The only jobs that are coming to South Australia are the ones that are financed by the government. It is either the $10,000 grants, the $4,000 grants or now, with new apprentices or trainees, the $15,000 grants.

Debate resumed.

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (11:11): I rise to make a quick contribution on these three reports in regard to the natural resources management levy proposal, including Arid Lands, Eyre Peninsula and Kangaroo Island.

Every year, we seem to have rises in natural resources levies, and I note the reasons given for the 118 per cent increase in the Kangaroo Island levy, from $36 per rateable property to $79. When I first saw the 118 per cent figure, I just about fell out of my chair, but as it was such a modest start rate perhaps it is not so bad. I certainly have a lot of respect for Richard Trethewey, who has been mentioned here, and his comments. He has put a good case for why that levy should rise. He spoke about weed and feral pest management. Let's hope that is where the money is spent appropriately because what has always confounded me, and I have said it in this place many times, is the amount of money spent on administration in natural resources management.

Adjourned debate on motion of Mr Odenwalder:

That the 95th report of the committee, entitled Emergency Services Levy 2017-18, be noted.

(Continued from 21 June 2017.)

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (11:51):I rise to speak to the Economic and Finance Committee's 95th report, entitled Emergency Services Levy 2017-18. I note that this levy intends to raise $302 million, with the levy and other funds, which will go into emergency services around the state. That is $10.3 million more than was required in 2016-17.

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading (resumed on motion).

Mr PEDERICK ( Hammond ) ( 20:34 ): I rise to speak to the Appropriation Bill 2017. The first thing I want to discuss in regard to this budget is net balance and net debt. Between 2016-17 and 2019-20, surpluses have been written down by a total of $926 million since the 2016-17 Mid-Year Budget Review, and the total non-financial public sector debt is now $13.84 billion and expected to peak at $14.94 billion in the year 2020.

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 31 May 2017.)

Mr PEDERICK: Thank you, Madam Independent Deputy Speaker. I rise to support the Industry Advocate Bill 2017. The bill establishes the role of the Industry Advocate as a statutory position and strengthens its powers to hold contractors to the commitments they make to utilise South Australian workers and materials. It seeks to capitalise on increasing community and industry stakeholder support for a 'buy South Australian' type policy, and this noise from the industry and community has come over recent years.

Mr PEDERICK ( Hammond ) ( 11:53 ): Thank you, Madam Independent Deputy Speaker, and I thank you in advance for your protection. I rise to support the motion by the member for Chaffey:

That this house—

(a) notes the ongoing exodus of South Australia's population interstate;

(b) calls on the state government to address the concerning population drain to ensure our skilled workers are not continually moving away to seek work, career and lifestyle opportunities;

(c) notes the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show that South Australia had 27,467 people move interstate resulting in a net loss of 5,887 people in the 12 months to March 2016; and

(d) acknowledges South Australia's net population loss interstate is almost double the 10-year average of 3,480 people.

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (15:28): I rise to speak on the Cittaslow International General Assembly. Between 9 and 12 May 2017, Goolwa hosted the 10th Cittaslow International General Assembly. The assembly is held each year hosted by one of the 230 Cittaslow-accredited towns across 30 nations. The purpose of the assembly is to discuss issues related to the principles of Cittaslow and projects that enhance the philosophy of local identity, sustainable practices, social programs, heritage preservation, infrastructure development and developing a strong relationship between the council, the community and businesses.

Adjourned debate on motion of Mr Odenwalder:

That the 87th report of the committee, entitled Emergency Services Levy 2015-16, be noted.

(Continued from 1 July 2015.)

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (11:24): I rise to speak on the Economic and Finance Committee 87th report on the emergency services levy 2015-16. In regard to this levy, the total funding target for 2015-16 was $278.2 million and $7.5 million to the Community Emergency Services Fund, which was to do with costs associated with the emergency services responses to the 2015 Sampson Flat bushfires.

Adjourned debate on motion of Mr Odenwalder (resumed on motion).

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (16:35): Thank you for your protection once again, Madam Deputy Speaker. I rise to speak to the 90th report of the Economic and Finance Committee, entitled the Emergency Services Levy 2016-17. As has been indicated by the member for Chaffey and others on this side, this is purely a land tax—purely a land tax.

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Stop the clock.

Mr PEDERICK: Chuck them out, ma'am.