Economic and Finance Committee: Annual Report 2016-17

Mr ODENWALDER (Little Para) (11:21): I move:

That the 96^th report of the committee, entitled Annual Report 2016-17, be noted.

I commend the report to the house. I report only one membership change to the Economic and Finance Committee in the 2016-17 period, which is unusual over the longer period. The member for Bright resigned on 29 March 2017 and the member for Davenport has ably been taking his place since then.

Our stable membership includes the member for Wright, the member for Colton, the member for Light, the member for Schubert, the member for Hartley and, as I just stated, the member for Davenport. I want to thank all members for their contributions throughout the reporting period. I will have something more to say about that later on. During this period, the committee tabled five reports, including finalising two major inquiries: the inquiry into local government rate capping and the labour hire inquiry.

Of particular note is the committee's central recommendation arising from the labour hire inquiry, which was to introduce a labour hiring licensing scheme at the federal level. The committee recommended that if there was no acceptance at a federal level, a state-based scheme should be introduced. This resulted in the introduction of the South Australian Labour Hire Licensing Bill by the Minister for Industrial Relations, which is currently before another place. I believe I am prevented from commenting any further on that.

The other major committee inquiry of note is the primary producers inquiry, which is ongoing and has been a substantial focus for this reporting period. On 16 November 2016, the Economic and Finance Committee resolved to inquire into and report on options for enhancing and supporting South Australian primary producers in competitively supplying to retailers to ensure future local processing and manufacturing in the horticultural, viticultural and agricultural sectors.

In undertaking this inquiry, the committee sought to ensure the competitiveness of local producers from those sectors in their respective supply chains. Given the significant scope of this inquiry, the committee adopted a two-limbed investigative approach. Written submissions were initially sought from stakeholders in stage 1 of the inquiry, which gave an opportunity for stakeholders to bring inquiry-related issues to the committee's attention. This led to the committee tabling an issues paper for the inquiry.

Stage 2, just recently completed, saw the committee receive oral evidence from over 30 witnesses and included a day of hearings held on site at the Barossa Valley council chambers. The regional hearings gave the committee a vital opportunity to hear directly from local producers and relevant stakeholders in the Barossa Valley region. A final report on this inquiry is due to be tabled in the next sitting week. Statutory functions of the committee also kept us busy during this reporting period, including everyone's favourite, the annual emergency services levy reporting obligations; the sport and rec fund allocations and subsequent hearing; and receiving evidence from the Auditor-General in relation to his annual report.

The committee's important membership—one that I think future committees should continue—of the Australasian Council of Public Accounts Committees saw myself and the executive officer attend the council's biennial conference hosted by the Queensland parliament in April. Attendance at these conferences gives our committee opportunities to be involved in discussing common issues amongst public accounts committees throughout the member jurisdictions.

Of particular note at this conference was the discussion on performance reviews of auditors-general undertaken by public accounts committees in most Australian jurisdictions but not in any statutory sense by the Economic and Finance Committee in South Australia. This gave me and the executive officer some food for thought. It is a conversation that I would like to continue with the Auditor in the future if I am given the chance.

During the reporting period, the committee was ably supported by our executive officer, Mrs Lisa Baxter, and part-time research officers, Ms Peta Spyrou and Dr Gordon Elsey. This morning, the Economic and Finance Committee met for what is likely to be the last time before the proroguing of the parliament and before the election. We do not know what form the committee will take next year.

Mr Pederick: A few changes.

Mr ODENWALDER: There may be a few changes. There may be no changes, although that would be the worst of all possible worlds, I think, member for Hammond. I want to take the opportunity to again thank all the current and past members of the committee. I particularly thank Lisa Baxter, who works so very hard for our committee. She is an excellent lawyer and an excellent resource for me and for the committee. I want to thank her for her service. I also thank our research officers, Gordon Elsey and, particularly lately, Peta Spyrou, who is going on to bigger and better things.

In the primary producers report, which will be tabled in the next sitting week, she has produced one of the best reports I have ever seen in my time chairing this committee. That is no reflection on any of the other reports; it was simply an excellent report. It was exactly what we wanted and resulted in very little substantial change subsequent to her presenting it to the committee. I want to thank her for her work. With those words, I recommend the annual report to the house.