Second Reading

I am pleased to introduce the Coroners (Undetermined Natural Causes) Amendment Bill 2020. The bill amends the Coroners Act 2003 to allow the state Coroner to return a finding of 'undetermined natural causes' in appropriate cases. The bill is intended to ensure efficient use of state forensic resources and to spare families the stress of a coronial investigation where possible.

The State Government has welcomed the release of a new report recommending reforms to remove ambiguity from South Australia’s forfeiture rules.

Retired Supreme Court Judge the Hon. Ann Vanstone QC has been appointed to lead a review of the legislation governing Royal Commissions undertaken in South Australia.

Clinical psychologist and World’s End farmer Stephanie Schmidt has been named South Australia’s AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award winner for 2020.

Grievance Debate        

I rise today to talk with pride of the Marshall government's investment in the southern regions of Adelaide. I am particularly compelled to do so because we have delivered for the residents not only of Aldinga, Normanville, Willunga, McLaren Vale and Yankalilla but also a place dear to my heart, my birthplace of Kangaroo Island. One would think, having listened to the member for Mawson, that he had somehow or other been delivering on these commitments, but this is what we have done. This is the Liberals' plan and this is what we have actually been delivering.

Second Reading

I rise to speak on the Planning, Development and Infrastructure (Commencement of Code) Amendment Bill 2019 and acknowledge and thank the minister for introducing it for our consideration so that we might, essentially, allow sufficient time for consultation to continue and consideration to be given to the development of the Planning and Design Code.

Second Reading

I am pleased to introduce the Criminal Law (Legal Representation) (Reimbursement of Commission) Amendment Bill 2020, a bill that amends the Criminal Law (Legal Representation) Act 2001. The bill makes two changes to the process by which the Legal Services Commission, South Australia's primary legal aid provider, is reimbursed for the costs of expensive criminal trials. The changes are designed to ensure that the Legal Services Commission is subject to a consistent, reliable maximum cost when taking on a serious criminal case.

Automatic suppression orders imposed on proceedings involving people accused of sex offences will be a thing of the past, under laws which passed State Parliament yesterday.

Second Reading

I wish to thank all those who have made a contribution to this debate. It is most pleasant to hear of the high regard across the chamber for The Wyatt Benevolent Institution Incorporated. It is a body that clearly has a high level of respect and appreciation across the board, not just in this parliament but of course in the community, which would attest to the extraordinary breadth of contribution that has been made for support in the community during the lifetime of this trust. I thank members for that and for an indication from the member for Badcoe of the opposition's support of the bill.

Motion

It is with considerable pleasure and pride that I stand to support this motion and thank the member for bringing this to the attention of the house. I hope all members in the chamber watched the ceremony when Dr James Muecke was recognised as the Australian of the Year this year. I hope we are all flush with pride as he is the second South Australian in two years to achieve this high honour.