Private Members' Statements

Private Members' Statements

Ms PRATT (Frome) (15:41): It is National Road Safety Week from 11 to 18 May, and it is an opportunity for me to draw the parallel between the importance of road safety, where we will note the presence of SAPOL, our South Australian police force, targeting road behaviours to ensure that our drivers are obeying the road rules—but in my area we also remain particularly vigilant about the standards of the road.

There is a particular road in my electorate of Frome that gives me grave concern, and it is raised frequently. Between the communities of Robertstown, Point Pass and Eudunda, locals are very concerned about the state of a road we know locally as World's End Highway—which should not become a self-fulfilling prophecy and contribute to the angst in the way that it does. There is great concern that if you are in a vehicle, caravan, bus or truck passing another of those, it is a white-knuckle journey.

In National Road Safety Week it is not just about the behaviour of road users but also the state of the roads. I hope during this week all drivers in South Australia remain vigilant and safe.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light) (15:42): Next week is Volunteer Week, and I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to a community organisation called the Light Country Community Centre Inc. Last week I attended an event I was invited to by this group, based in Kapunda, which is a registered not-for-profit charity helping people of our greater community who are finding the cost of living difficult to live with.

Currently this group has three functions. One is that they provide assistance in terms of food relief to people and families who are struggling to afford food after paying the bills, so they actually support the people in most need in our community. Most of the food is donated to the group by generous businesses, churches, groups, and individuals. They pass this food on for free to those in need.

They also provide meals on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and also have an open-door policy where people can come in and enjoy the food and friendship offered to anybody in the Kapunda Institute on the Fridays. As well, they have services which operate from the centre, like Services Australia, to assist those who need support through various ways.

The group currently has 26 volunteers, five of whom comprise the leadership board: Christine Thomas, her husband Ken Thomas, Carol de Vries van Luewen, Bruna Jaffa, and the Chair, Allan Fahlbusch. The event was about volunteering, about volunteers supporting and thanking other volunteers. I pay my tribute to them.

Time expired.

Mr PATTERSON (Morphett) (15:44): Last year, thousands of locals signed my 'Fix Morphett Road tram crossing' petition. This grassroots campaign delivered funding for an overpass for the very congested Morphett Road tram crossing. It is a huge win for the local community. I have been fighting for a solution since before I was elected as the member for Morphett in 2018, and I have talked about this in parliament many times, with the aim being to reduce congestion and improve road safety at this intersection.

With construction of the overpass commencing later this year, locals are concerned about part of the design, which plans to move Stop 13 towards Morphett Road by 250 metres. The existing location of Stop 13 is well used by locals and it provides convenient access for locals, both from Glengowrie and also from the Glenelg East side, with the car parks being full every day. Local residents are calling on the state government to keep Stop 13 where it is.

Earlier this year, Alan Herman started a petition to retain Stop 13. The petition attracted 417 signatures from concerned locals and commuters. On behalf of all petitioners, I have now given the petition to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport and have urged him to reconsider moving Stop 13 and to listen to the commuters who live in and around Glengowrie and Glenelg East and who regularly use this stop. Thanks go to Alan and the many residents and tram commuters who use Stop 13 who have asked that their voice be heard.

Mrs PEARCE (King) (15:46): I am pleased to share with the house that I had the great pleasure of visiting Golden Grove High School just this Monday with the Minister for Education, who is also the neighbouring member for Wright, as well as with Education chief executive Professor Martin Westwell, to meet with an incredible group of year 10 and year 11 students who are currently driving a Golden Grove leadership group within the school community. I would really like to share just how incredible the work is that these students are leading.

First and foremost, they have raised an incredible amount of funds for the Big Al Foundation. Not only have they raised the funds but they are doing what they can to promote awareness about this really important initiative that focuses on mental health and helping to support and activate members in the community to provide a support for those whom they see might be needing a little bit of extra assistance. I understand that they have now raised over $7,000 in a very short time for this very important cause, which will actually be going back into the school for a program led by this initiative, regarding breathing and peer mentorship.

That is not all, though. These amazing students are doing plenty in terms of Backpacks 4 SA Kids, as well as organising a festival in the school community to help raise community pride within the area. I commend them and thank them for all their work and efforts.