Bills

Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation (SACFS) Amendment Bill

Second Reading

Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (11:27): I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

This is a very straightforward bill that has come down from the other place where it was strongly supported. It has been debated for a long time in this place. CFS volunteers deserve to be valued by this government. It has procrastinated, it has prevaricated, it has tried to delay, and it is time that volunteers, at the start of the fire season particularly, were given confidence that this government supports them and values them, and I move that this bill be now voted on.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart) (11:28): I wholeheartedly support the bill. It is completely in line with many other comments I have made in this house, and I ask all members to support it.

Dr McFETRIDGE: This has been talked about a lot in this place and I look forward to the government, particularly the member for Frome, supporting this worthwhile piece of legislation.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: We have a contingent motion.

The Hon. T.R. KENYON (Newland) (11:29): Contingently on the order of the day for the Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation (SACFS) Amendment Bill being read, I move:

That all words after 'be' be left out and the words 'withdrawn and referred to the Parliamentary Committee on Occupational Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation for its report and recommendation' be inserted in lieu thereof.

There are a couple of bills here before the house, both of which I have included contingent motions for. I think it is a good idea for the house to send both of these bills to the Occupational Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Committee to have full consideration of both bills and see whether it would not in fact be more prudent to merge them or to move them in one particular bill or to recommend one way or the other whether they be agreed to or not. I think they are both worthy bills. It is an important topic for many people in this state. We are obviously deeply grateful for the commitment and the work of many volunteers in the CFS—in fact, all of the volunteers in the CFS.

Ayes 23

Noes 20

Majority 3