Second Reading

I am pleased to introduce the COVID-19 Emergency Response (Further Measures) Amendment Bill 2020, and I wish to acknowledge and appreciate the house's indulgence in allowing this to proceed this morning. The bill makes amendments to the COVID-19 Emergency Response Act 2020 and other associated amendments to ensure the continued safe and efficient functioning of the state of South Australia and the government and to address further critical matters that have arisen since the passage of the act and throughout the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.

Respected lawyer and Solicitor-General Dr Chris Bleby SC will be the second appointment to the State Government’s new, dedicated Court of Appeal, Attorney-General, Vickie Chapman announced today.

Second Reading

The attraction of interest of members to this bill has been stunning. I have been thoroughly inspired by the outpouring of contribution in relation to a matter which, frankly, hardly usually attracts much attention, but in this instance we have seen a resurgence of interest in a little known and little cared about area of our law, the Bail Act.

Second Reading

I thank members for their contributions and, from the opposition, for the indication that the bill will be supported. I would like to reflect on a couple of things that have been raised.

Second Reading

Firstly, I thank both the member for Kaurna from the opposition and the member for Heysen for their contributions. Restructuring government entities is sometimes of great interest to members in the parliament, but often not, so I appreciate the attention that has been given by two of our members to this.

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 rise to speak on the South Australian Public Health (Early Childhood Services and Immunisation) Amendment Bill 2020 and indicate my appreciation to the Minister for Health for progressing this matter in the parliament. Whilst there appears to be some criticism from the opposition as to the pace with which this has been developed, advanced and now presented for the final part of stage 2, I do note that the member for Kaurna was part of a government that had 16 years to develop this. Really, in the dying days of that government—

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.

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.

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.