Second Reading

I am pleased today to introduce the Equal Opportunity (Parliament) Amendment Bill 2020, and I commend in opening the groundbreaking work of the late Hon. David Tonkin, who introduced the first equal opportunity law in Australia, in South Australia, after he became the member for Bragg in 1970. Whilst there was a government change shortly after that time, I commend him for that groundbreaking work, and indeed acknowledge the Dunstan government, which came into power, agreeing to conclude that so that South Australia would be at the lead of equal opportunity law.

Second Reading

I am pleased to introduce the COVID-19 Emergency Response (Bail) Amendment Bill 2020. The bill seeks to protect prescribed workers, including front-line emergency workers, hospital workers and others employed in retrieval medicine, through amendment to the recently passed COVID-19 Emergency Response Act 2020. The bill also promotes general community safety as it seeks to protect private property from intrusion.

Grievance Debate        

I rise today to raise an issue regarding the effects on constituents in all our electorates of payday lending and consumer leases, also known as small amount credit contracts. As COVID-19 affects many South Australians' employment and financial affairs, it is expected that the demand for finance will rise. That is why it is important that the payday lending industry is properly regulated and that governments have sufficient support for those affected during this unprecedented time.

Second Reading

I rise to speak on the bill in respect of genetically modified crops and note the foreshadowed amendments by the member for Giles as well as an indication from the government that they will be agreed to. Essentially, it is to set up a program of allowance for various councils to seek the approval of the minister, after having consulted with their communities, for their area of jurisdiction to be a designated area for the purposes of the continuing moratorium on the use of genetically modified technology.

The presumption of bail will be reversed for offenders who assault emergency services workers and frontline hospital staff under tough new measures proposed by the Marshall Liberal Government.

An independent review of South Australia’s Police Complaints and Discipline Act has recommended ways to streamline processes and improve the way in which complaints against police officers are dealt with.

Renowned disability advocate Richard Bruggemann has been appointed to a new role in Government to assess temporary orders designed to protect both the community and people living with a cognitive impairment or mental incapacity from the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

The list of people who can witness statutory declarations in South Australia has been expanded, ensuring community members can still access the service while public health restrictions are put in place to combat the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Legal aid is boosting its free assistance for South Australians hit hard by COVID-19.

Second Reading

I am pleased to introduce the Freedom of Information (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill 2020. This bill makes a raft of amendments to the Freedom of Information Act 1991 to update it in line with legislative developments interstate and changes in technology.