HYDROGEN AND RENEWABLE ENERGY BILL
Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (16:25): I rise to make a contribution in regard to the Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Bill and note that this is a bill that seeks to regulate these projects under a one-stop shop system, and that is the very short version.
Read moreWORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY
The Hon. C.J. PICTON (Kaurna—Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (11:28): On behalf of the member for Elder, I move:
That this house—
(a) notes that 10 October 2023 is World Mental Health Day;
(b) acknowledges the importance of raising awareness of mental health issues;
(c) recognises the Malinauskas Labor government’s commitment to supporting and improving mental health services, including providing an extra 120 mental health beds to ease pressures on our hospital system so that people can get the help they need;
(d) commends the government for reversing the former Liberal government’s decision to abolish the role of a full-time mental health commissioner in SA; and
(e) encourages South Australians to look after each other and themselves and seek help if they are struggling.
Read moreGRIEVE: LOWER RIVER MURRAY LEVEES
Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (15:02): I rise today to talk about the management of the River Murray pre the recent flood, especially levee management or levee mismanagement, as the case may be. In regard to pre flood, I want absolutely to salute local governments, contractors and volunteers for the work they did in protecting their communities, whether it was at Renmark, where at least 150,000 tonnes of clay was moved, or as you come down the river there was much work done at areas like Cobdogla and Waikerie.
Read moreREGIONAL TOURISM
Mr BELL (Mount Gambier) (12:06): By leave, I move my motion in an amended form:
That this house—
(a) recognises the importance of South Australia’s regional areas to the state’s visitor economy;
(b) recognises the potential of Mount Gambier and the wider Limestone Coast region’s unique natural assets in the nature-based and adventure tourism sectors; and
(c) calls on the state government through SATC to prioritise product development and tourism experiences in future funding opportunities.
Read moreSTATUTES AMENDMENT (BUDGET MEASURES) BILL 2023
Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (11:40): I rise to make a contribution to the Statutes Amendment (Budget Measures) Bill, and I wish to indicate that I am not the lead speaker. The one thing I am very interested in is the amendment in regard to the Emergency Services Funding Act 1998 and the definition of 'emergency service'. It is about deleting the section that is:
Read moreECONOMIC AND FINANCE COMMITTEE: EMERGENCY SERVICES LEVY 2023-24
Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (11:20): I rise to speak to this report by the Economic and Finance Committee on the emergency services levy. This is a levy that has been in place for just over 20 years to be the main funder of our emergency services because there are a lot of lessons to be learned from events such as the two Ash Wednesdays to make sure we have the appropriate funding in place, especially for our volunteer firefighters and also our paid staff in firefighting.
Read moreMEDICINAL CANNABIS MOTION
Mr BELL (Mount Gambier) (11:01): I move:
That this house—
(a) recognises the growing importance of medicinal cannabis and cannabidiol (CBD) as an alternative treatment option for South Australians;
(b) supports expanded research and clinical trials into the treatment of conditions, including endometriosis, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and chronic pain; and
(c) streamlines access to locally manufactured products for South Australian residents.
Read moreFIRE DANGER RATING SYSTEM
Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (15:36): I rise today to speak about a very valuable time for farmers coming into this time of the year and over the next few months—harvest. Over the last couple of weeks, there has been a huge discussion in country areas and in city media as well about the cease harvest threshold fire danger rating system. It has shocked me to think that this has come from somewhere in the bureaucracy of the CFS. I acknowledge, as has been acknowledged before, I am a proud member of the CFS. They are a fantastic organisation with their 13,000 members. The dialogue around this has been scary, to put it in plain language.
Read moreAPPROPRIATION BILL 2023 - POST ESTIMATES
Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (12:00): I rise today to speak on the estimates committees and the aftermath of those committees; it is always an interesting process. I would first like to acknowledge Minister Geoff Brock, the member for Stuart. It was good to have a conversation with him earlier today and see that he is on the way to better health after having had a quadruple bypass. There were some significant little dramas along the way, not just involving him directly, but he is here and I applaud that.
Read moreAPPROPRIATION BILL 2023
Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (21:48): I rise to speak to the Appropriation Bill 2023. I note that this is, as they are every year, the biggest budget I have seen for this state in 17 years. With the Supply Bill, it is close on $26 billion. But the issue I have, even though it is the biggest budget for the state, is that there is nothing in it for a typical South Australian family, a family of people contributing to the economy, paying tax, paying their way and then having to put up with cost-of-living increases, whether it is interest rates, whether it is groceries or whether, as we see, it is some wicked power price increases that are coming in. I will have a bit more to say about that later on.
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