CORRECTIONAL SERVICES (MISCELLANEOUS) AMENDMENT BILL

Conference

The Legislative Council, having considered the recommendations of the conference, agreed to the same.

Consideration in committee of the recommendations of the conference.

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: I move:

That the recommendations of the conference be agreed to.

It has taken quite some considerable time to come to this agreement so I want to place on record my thanks and appreciation to those members of the House of Assembly who participated in this deadlock conference, and also those members of the Legislative Council. As I said, it has been quite a lengthy and difficult process to get to this point but I think that we have amendments now before us that are workable, that will allow the corrections department, the Parole Board and, importantly, the South Australia Police to undertake their duties in a very swift manner, and it is another piece of legislation that is going to enhance community safety here in South Australia.

Ms CHAPMAN: I would also like to endorse the minister's remarks. Members will recall that this was a bill that came into the parliament consequential upon the shameful event of the Shane Robinson death and the circumstances surrounding that. Some significant reforms were proposed. Obviously, some agencies, including the police, considered that some aspects of that were unworkable. I agree with the minister: it was a complex matter which did require resolution, and one will hope that the ultimate implementation of the reforms in this bill will have the effect they are designed to have.

I especially acknowledge a member of our committee, the member for Croydon, who was most helpful on this occasion, in a light bulb moment, in recommending a compromise position. He was at his very best on this occasion. It was brief, this little act of brilliance but, nevertheless, it was leapt upon by other members of the committee as a matter which would be helpful in resolving the issues in contest, and I thank him for that. Of course, I want to remember the importance of recognising that he is the member for Croydon and not the member for Spence. He would want to have Catherine Helen Spence immortalised as his electorate name but, nevertheless, as the member for Croydon in this instance on this important issue, he has been most helpful. I look forward to seeing another gem—a diamond—of inspiration coming to those meetings.

Dr McFETRIDGE: I would like to thank the members of the conference on the deliberations. It was my first time in a deadlock conference. We had seven meetings and there were some interesting times; there are no rules that really govern the discussions in these conferences. There is nothing like the rules in this place, that is, the standing orders in this place. So, what we saw was some full and frank discussion. It was good to see that even though, in theory, it was the House of Assembly members up against the Legislative Council members there was some good dialogue and use of resources (briefings from the stakeholders), which brought about a resolution that is going to be not only workable for the members of the conference but, more importantly, the stakeholders who are going to have to enforce these pieces of legislation in the future.

The member for Croydon was very helpful, I must admit. It was delightful to be working with him rather than opposing him, as we often do in this place. Deadlock conferences are an interesting but very essential part of the legislative process. I thank the minister for, finally, not agreeing but being conciliatory, and the members of the other place for bringing about a good resolution to these issues.

Motion carried.