Local Government Reform

Mrs POWER (Elder) (14:13): My question is to the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government. Can the minister update the house on how the Marshall Liberal government is easing cost-of-living pressures for households and businesses in my electorate and all across South Australia through the local government reform program?

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL (Schubert—Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government, Minister for Planning) (14:13): I do thank the member for Elder for her question. I am glad she got back here in time because we were just out in her electorate in the Mitcham council area talking to a couple, Emily and Matt, who live in Hawthorn, who over the past decade have had to endure average increases to their rates notice of over 5 per cent per annum when CPI ran at less than half that over that same period.

In South Australia, we do not have a system to provide effective control over burgeoning council rate increases right across South Australia. At the 2014 election, we took a policy to the South Australian people to cap council rates in South Australia. In 2018, we took that same policy to the people of South Australia, and they voted for it. This government has a clear mandate to help put downward pressure on rates here in South Australia. For families like Emily and Matt and little two-year-old Harry, as well as families right across South Australia, there is only one thing standing in the way of lower rates notices, and it is the South Australian Labor Party and Peter Malinauskas.

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The leader is warned.

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Leader!

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: One thing is standing in the way. The Labor Party in South Australia need to decide: are they on the side of households in South Australia or are they on the side of sectional interests? Do they want to see lower bills and cost-of-living relief in South Australia or don't they?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: That will be a very key question—

Mr Picton interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Kaurna!

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: —that will be answered as our local government reform bill is introduced later on this afternoon.

Mr Patterson interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Morphett!

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: We need—

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Leader!

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: We have provided cost-of-living relief across a whole host of areas. The Minister for Energy and Mining is doing a fantastic job helping to bring down electricity prices in South Australia. We, in our first budget, provided emergency services levy relief of $90 million to South Australian households. Last week, we announced the biggest cut to water bills in South Australia's history, undoing the damage done by Labor over their 16 years in office.

Now, for the second time over this four-year term, we are providing an opportunity for the parliament to listen to the mandate that the South Australian people gave this government: to provide rate relief to South Australian households. This is a test of the Labor Party and of the opposition leader about whether they support households in South Australia getting rate relief. If they fail that test, we will take this to the next election and again ask the people of South Australia what they want to see in terms of rate notices here in South Australia.

Is it okay to see rates increase at double the rate of inflation? Is it okay to see rate bills go up by hundreds of dollars a year? Is that okay? It also comes at a time when there are bills in the parliament asking us to provide rate relief to a certain small section of the economy, that being businesses in South Australia. It would be hypocritical in my view to say that businesses should get rate relief when households aren't provided that opportunity—

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order, sir.

The SPEAKER: The point of order is for—

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: The minister just referenced debates before the parliament.

The SPEAKER: —anticipation of, yes, debate. He's close, so I will listen carefully. I thank the member for West Torrens. The minister has the call.

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: The choice is clear here. This is a test of the Labor Party. If they choose not to stand with us—

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order, sir.

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: —and households and businesses in South Australia, then they will have failed that test and the South Australian people will hold them to account for it.

The SPEAKER: There is a point of order. I will listen to the point of order. I'm sure it's not vexatious. The point of order is for debate?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: For debate, sir. When you talk about the Labor Party, sir, it's debate.

The SPEAKER: Yes, I have the point of order. I have allowed some compare and contrast on certain occasions. I won't deviate from that ruling, but I will listen carefully. Minister.

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL: I am finished, sir.

The SPEAKER: He has completed his answer. The Leader of the Opposition has the call.