Grievance Debate

STUART ELECTORATE

The Hon. G.M. GUNN (Stuart) (15:27): I want to raise a couple of issues. I say to the Minister for Education that I am a supporter of effective, good public education and the good work of the teaching staff in all the isolated schools in my electorate. I do take a great interest in the schools in my electorate, because I believe one of the most important things in which a member of parliament can be involved is supporting, enhancing and improving education services. Whoever has been critical, I do not wish to be included.

Recently I had the pleasure of attending the start-up of hot rocks drilling in the northern part of my electorate, virtually alongside Beverley uranium mine—which is also a great initiative of the previous Liberal government. On that occasion, the Premier and federal minister Ferguson were there. It was an important occasion because the potential for benefits for the people of South Australia is great. I sincerely hope that it is a successful operation, because we could expand and develop those particular programs across other parts of South Australia in suitable locations.

One of the things that was brought to my attention was the poor state of the road between the Balcanoona turn-off and the mine site. I appeal to the Minister for Transport to endeavour to have further maintenance work carried out on that road. I had to stay the night at Arkaroola and I was told before I went up there the next morning that I should be aware of the extensive potholes and rocks on the road. I was pleased that I took my four-wheel drive and did not go in a normal car, because I think there would have been a fair chance of changing certain parts of that car, particularly the suspension.

So, I appeal to the minister in relation to this particular matter because there are other roads in the Far North that need considerable maintenance. The tourist industry needs to have good, well maintained roads. Thousands of people have travelled to the north of South Australia. We are fortunate to have water in Lake Eyre, and I am concerned to make sure that those businesses in the north get the maximum benefit because they do not get this opportunity every year. Therefore, the condition of the roads is very important.

The next issue that I want to mention is that one of the things that is terribly important in a society such as ours is that we have aged-care facilities as close as possible to where people have lived all their lives. At Peterborough in my constituency there is an excellent facility which has been run by the local community for many years and which has had great community support. That facility is well managed by dedicated, hardworking people, but it needs to be expanded.

When the HAC committee (which, unfortunately, does not have the same powers as previous hospital boards) was set up it had a desire to see Nalya Lodge at Peterborough expanded. My understanding is that that community has some $700,000 of its own money, but the Sir Humphreys in the regional health groups—the bureaucrats—have declined to forward the application to the commonwealth because they think it may cost the state some money. We have never had that problem in the past, and I think it is an unfortunate set of circumstances. It clearly indicates that the quicker we go back to giving local communities the power to run their own facilities and not have this bureaucratic oversight the better we will all be.

I discussed this matter with the mayor at the MNSEC concert the other night at Peterborough, and she is appalled by what has happened. I really want to see some common sense apply. Not too many communities have $700,000 in the bank through hard work. That community already has put in money to seal the airstrip, amongst other things, which is a good thing for Peterborough. Why should these hardworking people be denied the benefit to provide these urgently needed facilities?

Can I just say this to the Treasurer. He continues to go on about how good this government is. He fails to take into account that he was handed a set of books in good condition. The previous government rectified the sins of the Bannon government, which wrecked South Australia. That is why it was not possible to do all the things that the previous government wanted to do. However, with little money it did a lot of good. Anyone can run the business if you do not have an overdraft.

Time expired.