Second Reading

The bill I introduce today is the Legal Practitioners (Foreign Lawyers) Amendment Bill 2019, which amends the Legal Practitioners Act 1981. The main amendments in the bill insert provisions to regulate the practice of foreign law by foreign lawyers in South Australia and to provide for their local registration and regulation.

Nearly 350 South Australian women have sought support from the Women’s Domestic Violence Court Assistance Service since the Legal Services Commission began providing the service in July.

Second Reading

In continuing my remarks, having acknowledged the contribution of members speaking on this bill, I wish to commend the thoughtful contributions respectfully delivered to the benefit of all those listening to this debate. May I also acknowledge Eva Nikitas, who is a legal research officer of our research library here at Parliament House, for her comprehensive work identifying South Australia's current laws, the history of previous attempts, the legal approaches and, of course, the current laws around the country. This is always an important assessment that is done and, on this occasion, it has been admirably carried out by Eva.

Second Reading

I thank all members for their contribution to the debate on this bill, in particular the expression of support for the government's bill from the opposition by the member for Kaurna. I also take the opportunity to answer some questions raised by the member for Kaurna during a briefing on the bill, attended by my advisers and the Attorney-General's Department, and during his second reading contribution yesterday.

Second Reading

I thank the member for Lee for his comments in relation to the advancing of these reforms and some foreshadowed amendments that have been considered since the tabling of these bills. May I add two things to the fulsome matters that need to be looked at. One is the question of online gambling and the commitment, which I make here today on behalf of the government, to ensure that a select committee is presented for parliament's consideration to be established to investigate online gambling in both its application and its current regulation, or inadequacy thereto, what protections we have to deal with vulnerable persons—that includes every 18 year old who is eligible to get a phone account—and how we might manage that in the future.

Motion

I move to amend the motion as follows:

Second Reading

In response to the debate on this matter, I start by thanking the Hon. Kyam Maher, who is the shadow attorney-general for the opposition, for discussions with him and correspondence; I will refer to that shortly. He is of course in another place and ultimately may make a contribution in relation to this bill if it is passed in this house. I acknowledge the member for Kaurna's contribution and those of the members for Lee and Heysen.

The Marshall Liberal Government is going to crackdown on the sale of nitrous oxide canisters known as ‘nangs’ following concerns raised in the community about their abuse.

Surrogacy will now be an option for more people looking to start a family in South Australia. 

Second Reading

I wish to make a few further concluding remarks in relation to this bill. If I have not already, I thank the member for Badcoe, who was the lead speaker on this matter, for her contribution and indication of general support with the qualification that she foreshadowed that the opposition may move an amendment in another place, and I am happy to canvass that further in committee.