The Marshall Liberal Government has today passed legislation through Parliament which will see the strongest penalties in the State’s history for emergency service worker assaults.

Second Reading

I rise to firstly thank the shadow minister and the member for Heysen for their contributions. I thank the member for Heysen for his interest in this law reform in relation to a number of areas but particularly spent convictions. I note the indication by the opposition that they will support the bill but have some questions.

Second Reading

I thank the member for Kaurna for his contribution on behalf of the opposition, notwithstanding that it appears that, even with briefings, he is reserving the opposition's determination on whether they support this bill or not. The briefings have been provided. I note that the member raises what he claims are apparent inconsistencies between the contribution to the parliament and the recordings of Mr Tom Richardson in InDaily articles on 31 May 2018 to 16 May 2019. We do not accept those claims of inconsistency.

News laws cracking down on people who distribute or help distribute child pornography online have now passed State Parliament.

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.