Parliamentary Internship Program

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light) (15:20): Today, I rise to speak briefly about one of the programs that most MPs are involved in, and that is the Parliamentary Internship Program. It is a scheme that is run jointly by three universities—the University of South Australia, the University of Adelaide and Flinders University—where students undertaking their third year in a particular program have the opportunity to undertake an internship with an MP in this state.

The internship is essentially where a student is assigned to an MP, the MP or student suggests an area of research and a report is prepared for the MP on a range of topics. This year, I was fortunate enough to have five students assigned to me for the internship program and they were wonderful young people who delivered great reports. I was quite impressed by the quality of their reports, their depth of thinking and also their depth of writing.

Before I go on to mention the projects they undertook for me this year, I would like to also acknowledge that the Parliamentary Internship Program is celebrating 25 years this year. I have been involved with the program for the 14 years that I have been here. Over that time, I have dealt with Clem Macintyre, who was the first person I was involved with and is Emeritus Professor in politics at Adelaide University; Haydon Manning at Flinders University; and also, more recently, Wayne Errington at Adelaide University. I think that this is a very good scheme where not only do MPs get an opportunity to get some rigorous academic work done for them but it also gives an opportunity for students to engage with MPs and get a better understanding of the political process.

The students I supervised for the internship this year were Brayden Johns, Alexandra Herden, Rebecca Vandepeear, Beth Cox and Clara Finn. Between the five of them, they covered some very diverse topics. Brayden Johns' report was about South Australia. He did an investigation and study into South Australia as an international moral agent and his report referred to South Australia as a protagonist on the world stage. That research project looked into the capacity of subnational governments, like state and local governments, to play a role on the international stage.

As a state, we have had some success in that area. For example, previous premiers Rann and Weatherill were quite prominent internationally, especially in the energy area, where we led the world. They also took a position in some international organisations, leading the world in terms of renewable energies. Brayden also looked at other topics and at the capacity of state and local governments to influence the world political system or world outcomes. He made the observation that there are a lot of opportunities for local government to be involved more.

Alexandra Herden did a research project on the freedom of speech, which is very topical in this country at the moment. She looked at the general concept of freedom of speech and whether there is a difference between that and religious freedom of speech. She also looked into whether that is a special category and, if it is, why it is. She prepared a very thorough and interesting report.

Rebecca Vandepeear undertook a study into what can be done to increase the population in rural and remote South Australia. She looked at the various policies that would promote the growth of the population in rural areas. In fact, she prepared such a good report that it is my intention to send a copy to the various regional communities and regional local government associations that have actually asked for some support and advice on this matter. She did an excellent job.

Clara Finn, who is an international student from England, did a study into whether identity politics is actually a friend or foe of social democracies and worked out what is good for the Labor Party in terms of its policy in that regard.

The last report I would like to mention is by Beth Cox. Beth is a geography student at the University of Adelaide. She undertook a study into the southern rural areas of Gawler. She is looking at trying to find solutions to this policy issue in Gawler, which councils and the state government have not been able to resolve for about 20 years. I am looking forward to receiving her final report, which will provide some recommendations on how to resolve that policy dilemma.