Second Reading

The Controlled Substances (Youth Treatment Orders) Amendment Bill 2018 that I introduce into parliament today gives effect to the government's commitment to provide children and young people with drug dependency problems treatment for up to 12 months and to enable parents to legally force their children to attend drug treatment programs. Measures such as those in the bill are not proposed lightly by this government. They attempt to strike the correct balance between respecting the rights and autonomy of children and our special obligation to care for and protect children.

Second Reading

The retail and commercial leasing sector is dominated by small businesses. This sector is of vital importance to South Australia's economy and is a major provider of employment in this state. The property industry is also a major contributor to the state's economy, through its provision and development of retail premises.

Significantly lower sentencing discounts would be available to serious offenders who admit their guilt within four weeks of their first court appearance, under recommendations made through an independent review of South Australia’s sentencing discount scheme.

New laws to protect whistleblowers come into effect tomorrow.

The Marshall Liberal Government is considering removing suppression restrictions on the reporting of sexual offenders and offences.

With the Aboriginal Power Cup kicking off today, the South Australian Government has committed $100,000 in the 2019-20 State Budget for continued support of the Port Adelaide Football Club’s flagship Aboriginal community program.

Second Reading

I rise to confirm the government's position in relation to this bill and in particular to confirm that we oppose the same. In doing so, I bring to the attention of the house that the government have advanced and, with the blessing of this parliament, produced reforms in relation to sentencing law, which cover not only the issues that were extant and the basis upon which this bill was presented for our consideration but also a number of other matters.

Second Reading

I wish to thank all members who have made a contribution to the debate on the Statutes Amendment (SACAT) Bill 2019. In particular, I recognise the indication of support for the bill by the opposition's leader, other than reference to the appointment by the Attorney-General without the Governor's endorsement in respect of assessors. I certainly hope to advise the committee in due course of the importance of this change and why we have presented it for consideration.

As part of the 2019-20 State Budget, the Marshall Liberal Government has committed to purchasing a new CT scanner for Forensic Science South Australia (FSSA), which will significantly reduce post mortem wait times. 

Second Reading

Section 6 of the Summary Offences Act, which relates to hindering police or resisting arrest, has been raised as being transferred to the Criminal Law Consolidation Act. This is PASA's request, and this is one of the areas in relation to which the Commissioner of Police has differed from the police union.