House of Assembly Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1) 52 1 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Ministerial Statement Ministerial Statement Parliamentary Secretary PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL House of Assembly Cheltenham Premier Minister for State Development The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Minister for State Development) (14:04): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement. Leave granted. The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL House of Assembly The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: I am pleased to announce that today His Excellency the Governor in Executive Council appointed Mrs Leesa Vlahos, the member for Taylor, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier. The member for Taylor was elected to this parliament in March 2010 and is passionate about growing the prosperity of our state. Mrs Vlahos has often spoken to me about her desire to build employment and skills opportunities, particularly in the warehousing, manufacturing and defence industries. As Parliamentary Secretary, I have asked Mrs Vlahos to assist me in building on our image as a defence state and maintaining liaison with the defence industries that have been establishing and are expanding in South Australia. The electorate that Mrs Vlahos represents is home to a number of these industries, including the RAAF Edinburgh base, and I know that she fully understands the importance of these industries to the South Australian economy. In addition I have asked her to work with me on my government's engagement and dialogue with communities, particularly multicultural communities, to ensure that their voices are heard in shaping government decisions. I take this opportunity to congratulate the member for Taylor on her appointment to this important post. I am also pleased that Mr Leon Bignell, the member for Mawson, will continue in his role as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing, and in particular continue with his important work in meeting with people right across the state in regional communities about their healthcare needs. In this work Mr Bignell has visited just about every region in the state, working hard to reconnect this government with the regions and to understand how people are experiencing our health services. It is vital work for our government. I will also take this opportunity to congratulate Mr Tony Piccolo, the member for Gawler, on his— An honourable member House of Assembly An honourable member: Light. Members interjecting: The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL House of Assembly The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: —I think he regards himself as the member for Gawler at times—on his appointment to the position of Deputy Speaker. I offer to him, and I ask all members of this house to give him in the chair the respect that I said yesterday is owing to the Speaker of this important place. Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order!