Private Members' Statements

Private Members' Statements

Mrs HURN (Schubert) (15:43): For too long, South Australia has been the only state in the nation without a dedicated brain tumour support coordinator: someone whose primary role is to help patients and their families navigate the often challenging and complex journey of being diagnosed and, ultimately, living with a brain tumour.

Last May, the opposition backed in calls from impacted families, neurosurgeons and researchers calling on the government to fund this very important role. Pleasingly, the government has heeded the call for the creation of this role, and I note—very pleasingly—that this role has now been advertised through CALHN and the Royal Adelaide Hospital on seek.com.au. This is such an extraordinary win for families.

We know that brain cancer can be an incredibly aggressive disease. Those afflicted, and their families and friends, should not be losing precious time wading through the maze of government bureaucracy, nor should they be left without expert assistance to help them navigate often complex, time-consuming and stressful decision-making processes. We know that this role will go some way to help ease the burden once they have received this tragic diagnosis.

I would like to put on the record my sincere thanks to Chloe Drogemuller-Fiebig, the Brave for Dave Foundation, and Ginta through the NeuroSurgical Research Foundation who have successfully advocated for the implementation of this role, which will make such a difference to so many families.

S.E. ANDREWS (Gibson) (15:44): It is my favourite time of the year: we have the Fringe, we have the Adelaide Festival and we have WOMADelaide. We are already at that part of the year when we are asking each other what shows we recommend and what we might go and see on any weeknight or on the weekends.

The arts should challenge us to think of possibilities we could never imagine for ourselves, to think deeply about what it means to be human and the society we live in. To hear, to see, and to observe another person's story is to have the opportunity to walk in someone else's shoes and to better understand another person's experience and feel empathy. We could possibly see some of ourselves reflected in the arts, to validate and celebrate our differences and to laugh and lose ourselves for a moment from our everyday lives. The arts can offer all of us the possibility to create beauty or to safely witness and experience anguish.

It is another opportunity for our young people to get involved and to experience a safe place where they can truly understand who they are until their own individual stories. High school does not offer a place where everyone can find their tribe, but you can certainly do that in the arts. The arts community have long been at the forefront of celebrating diversity and we will see shows from our disabled, queer and young people and across our regions. If you are looking for us, I will be under the flags at WOMAD.

Mr COWDREY (Colton) (15:46): I rise today to again call on the state government to finally release the outcome of the Adelaide Beach Management Review. On coming to government, cancelling a contract in place for the sand recycling pipeline, stopping a mass replenishment and launching a review with no viable alternative option in sight is not a plan.

Two years in we have a review that has lasted longer than the naval shipbuilding review, that continues to roll on, was due to be released in November and yet still we have nothing. I asked the Premier a question in question time about when we should expect the outcome of that review. He did not answer that question; instead, it was over to the Minister for Transport to say that he would go and seek an answer.

It is not just my community asking where are the results of this review. It is also people in the Deputy Premier's own seat. We have the likes of Save Our Shores: Semaphore Largs Bay asking the same questions that my community is asking: where are the outcomes of the review?

All we are saying is: put your cards on the table, put the money allocated back on the table, that we need a healthy suburban coastline and healthy suburban beaches. We need a long-term solution and so far all we have from the Malinauskas Labor government is delay, delay and absence.

Mr ODENWALDER (Elizabeth) (15:48): I rise very briefly to speak about an election commitment that is coming to fruition in my electorate. Blakeview and Blakes Crossing are the newest parts of my electorate, in the northern part of the electorate. Blakeview and Blakes Crossing were built, like many new developments, in a sort of medium-density European style. Lots of pedestrian connectivity is the main motivating feature, so there are lots of small lanes and lots of narrow streets. Over the time that Blakes Crossing has developed and become more populated, this has become something of a problem in terms of traffic, accessibility, connectivity and particularly in terms of road safety.

Just before the last election, I was really pleased to secure some funding for a council-backed traffic study across Blakes Crossing and Blakeview. I am glad to see that some of that is coming to fruition now. There was a certain amount of money set aside for the study itself and then a more substantial amount of money for the extra works. These works include a wombat crossing at Main Terrace, the installation of three new pedestrian crossing points on Uley Road where there are in fact three schools, and new kerb ramps on Village Terrace.

The ones that are coming to fruition this week—and may even be completed today—are a pedestrian crossing at the Mansfield Terrace-Village Terrace intersection, between the vet and Aldi, and a pedestrian refuge at the Main Terrace-Village Terrace intersection to make some of that foot traffic easier. This is just part of what the Malinauskas government is doing in terms of road safety and traffic control across the state.