Parliamentary Committees

Select Committee on the Fire and Emergency Services (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill

Adjourned debate on motion of Mr Treloar:

That the report of the committee be noted.

(Continued from 28 November 2019.)

Mr TRELOAR (Flinders) (15:39): I rise today to close debate on the report of the Select Committee on the Fire and Emergency Services (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill. It was tabled in this place on 4 April, so it has been some time coming to a conclusion, but I am pleased we have finally reached that day. I look forward to going into committee on the bill later this afternoon.

The committee made 10 recommendations regarding clause 23 of the bill, which proposed to extend powers to direct people to refrain from prescribed activities which may cause fires. While the report recommends that proposed powers be introduced, it also states that the bill should clarify that South Australia Police officers, as the chief authority for law enforcement in this state, have the power to issue directions.

Further to that, given the success of and stakeholder support for the Grain Harvesting Code of Practice, the committee further recommends the exercise of powers in section 82 take into account relevant industry-led codes of practice. The committee has investigated the possible implications of the powers to direct for people across South Australia based on a broad range of stakeholder submissions and is pleased with the outcomes.

On behalf of the committee, I would like to thank all those who took time to contribute to the inquiry. The committee received 39 submissions and held four public hearings. They took place in Adelaide, Port Lincoln, Balaklava and Keith. I would like to thank the other members of the committee, who include the members for Finniss, Heysen, Mawson and Giles, and also committee staff Dr Josh Forkert and Dr Monika Stasiak.

I would also like to thank those who have made contributions on the report in this place, they being the members for Heysen, Finniss and Mount Gambier; the Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services; the members for Elizabeth and Hammond; and also the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government.

With that, I commend the report and, as I said earlier, look forward to the committee stage of the bill.

Motion carried.