Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 29 March 2017.)

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (16:51): Thank you, the Independent Madam Deputy Speaker. I rise to speak to the Supply Bill 2017 and note that I think it is the 12th time I have made a contribution to supply. If we do not pass the Supply Bill, it will not allow the continued payment of public servants and public services until the Appropriation Bill (budget bill) is passed by parliament later this year, so we obviously need to pass the Supply Bill because it finances the pay of public servants and ourselves as representatives of the state.

Thank you, the Independent Madam Deputy Speaker. I rise to speak to the Supply Bill 2017 and note that I think it is the 12th time I have made a contribution to supply. If we do not pass the Supply Bill, it will not allow the continued payment of public servants and public services until the Appropriation Bill (budget bill) is passed by parliament later this year, so we obviously need to pass the Supply Bill because it finances the pay of public servants and ourselves as representatives of the state.

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (12:59): I rise to support the ANZAC Day Commemoration (Veterans' Advisory Council) Amendment Bill 2017 and note that it was introduced in the House of Assembly by the Minister for Veterans' Affairs to amend the ANZAC Day Commemoration Act 2005. The bill proposes to change the arrangements under which funds are allocated to community organisations from the ANZAC Day Commemoration Fund and to give the minister a greater role in the administration of the fund and final approval power for those grants. I seek leave to continue my remarks.

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.

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.

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 16 February 2017.)

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (15:46): Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and I acknowledge your tolerance. I want to speak to the Rail Safety National Law (South Australia) (Miscellaneous No 3) Amendment Bill 2017. I am quite happy to speak on this bill after that withering attack from the member for Napier.

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. S.W. Key:

That the 26 th report of the committee, entitled Work Related Mental Disorders and Suicide Prevention, be noted.

(Continued from 16 November 2016.)

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (11:30):I rise to speak to the 26th report of the Parliamentary Committee on Occupational Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation, entitled 'Work related mental disorders and suicide prevention'. Certainly, since coming into this place I have become well aware of a broad range of issues that can occur due to work-related mental disorders. Before coming into this place, I was well aware of the issues facing our service men and women with post-traumatic stress disorder in the military forces, especially those who in more recent times have served overseas, whether it be in Afghanistan or Iraq.

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.

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (12:05): I rise to support the motion of the member for Morphett:

That this house—

(a) condemns the state government for increasing cost of living pressures on South Australian families and businesses; and

(b) supports significant reductions in the impact that emergency services levy changes have on South Australian families and businesses, whilst at the same time ensuring proposed budgets for emergency services are maintained.

Mr PEDERICK ( Hammond ) ( 11:20 ): I rise to speak to the South-East Flows Restoration Project and concur with the comments made by the member for MacKillop; we do have to get this right. Issues with the Murray-Darling Basin go back for millennia, but they were certainly highlighted with the massive drought we had about 10 years ago that impacted heavily right throughout the basin. It was very stark at the bottom end of the Murray-Darling Basin, where my electorate of Hammond is situated; we could not even get water to cover acid sulphate soils at the bottoms of Lake Albert and Lake Alexandrina. We had a major crisis.

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 16 November 2016.)

Mr PEDERICK ( Hammond ) ( 16:50 ): I rise to speak to the Local Government (Boundary Adjustment) Amendment Bill 2016. This bill was introduced by the minister, the member for Frome, in November last year. It follows on from draft legislation and a discussion paper released in August last year on the proposal to amend the provision for boundary adjustments and amalgamations within the Local Government Act 1999.