Private Members' Statements

Private Members' Statements

The Hon. D.G. PISONI (Unley) (15:42): We know that the Parklands has been a very contentious issue for the Labor Party, and, in fact, any party of government. It is precious for South Australians, but there is a significant difference between this government and the previous Labor government.

In the previous Labor government, the passionate member for Adelaide, Jane Lomax-Smith, who is now the Lord Mayor, was so passionate about the Parklands that she sought a special exemption from the Labor Party caucus rule that you could not have a different view when it came to the party position on any issue. She was given the ability to express opposition to the proposed grandstand for what was then the Clipsal 500 and she was granted that.

But what was missing in this debate and what is missing today is that the current member for Adelaide obviously has not asked for that exemption because she will be supporting this bill. It is very clear that we have given the member for Adelaide every opportunity to indicate her concern about this bill, but she is obviously supporting it. She will not even explain to her constituents what her view is.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Unley, there is a point of order. I will hold the clock.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: There are two points of order, sir: the member is imputing an improper motive to the member for Adelaide and he is debating and talking about a bill that is before the house.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: On the first one, I think the actual member has to take offence. The second one I agree with, so I would ask the member for Unley to limit his comments to not cover the bill that is before the house. You are reflecting on that.

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: I am actually speaking about the member for Adelaide's attitude towards the Parklands. It is simply not there. There is no passion for the Parklands from the member for Adelaide. That is clear. Despite what she claims in her pamphlets that she sends out to the residents of North Adelaide, that is clear.

Ms O'HANLON (Dunstan) (15:45): It is hard to overstate just how significant this year's AFL Gather Round has been for our local community both in terms of energy and economic impact. The Spendmapp data released by the City of Norwood, Payneham & St Peters shows just how significant it is. Across the council area, which incorporates about 85 per cent of the Dunstan electorate, we saw a total spend of $15.8 million during Gather Round, a 7 per cent increase on last year.

That includes more than $1.12 million from interstate tourists alone, with visitors from Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland spending big in our local community. Victorians led the way, contributing $750,000 to our economy. Norwood Oval once again played a central role, hosting two key matches that brought footy fans from across the country to The Parade. The atmosphere was just electric, and our local pubs, cafes and restaurants were bustling—just the way we like it.

I really want to acknowledge the foresight of Premier Peter Malinauskas and the Malinauskas Labor government for investing in major events like Gather Round. This is exactly the kind of smart strategic investment that supports local jobs, energises small business and strengthens South Australia's reputation as a destination for world-class events. I also want to thank the City of Norwood, Payneham & St Peters for publishing the Spendmapp data, which gives us a clear picture of just how valuable Gather Round is. For example, hospitality spend across the city jumped from $3.6 million last year to $4.6 million this year, a 26 per cent increase.

Ms PRATT (Frome) (15:46): Yet again, a serious and dangerous incident has taken place in our community that puts mental health back into the spotlight. As the parliament prepares itself for the estimates committees process and we reflect on the budget, I feel that it is really important to summarise where we are at when it comes to government investment in mental health services.

As it stands, we see psychologists join with other allied health professionals in an EBA dispute with the government. Industrial action has been required, and treatment services have been paused. When it comes to the psychiatric workforce, a 10-year report card handed down independent of the government shows that we will have a shortfall of 61 psychiatrists across our state by the year 2027. Of course, when we look at the ratio of patients to psychiatrists in regional South Australia, we continue to be worse off than Mongolia.

The government in its drought relief package three months ago committed—online, you can still find it on the PIRSA website—to an immediate and comprehensive strategy to boost mental health and resilience in our communities. In questioning the minister today for an update on that three months on, because it had not been written yet, we are yet to see that roll out. They had a national Health Ministers' Meeting on Friday. That was a missed opportunity to put mental health front and centre. Of course, the only measure that we see now is a government outsourcing mental health services to our already overworked SAPOL.

Ms HOOD (Adelaide) (15:48): The member for Unley seems to have an incredibly short memory. It was only a few years ago that the former Marshall Liberal government was planning to build a basketball stadium on our Parklands. One of the very first things we did when coming into government was restore the full Parklands protection to Helen Mayo Park, protecting those Parklands and trees. We are delivering an extra 1,000 square metres of Parklands as part of the Adelaide Aquatic Centre development.

We are creating 30,000 square metres of accessible Parklands as part of the Women's and Children's development, and, yes, we are investing in our North Adelaide Golf Course to deliver a world-class golf course venue. We are in the business of acting, investing and delivering on accessible Parklands. On Sunday, I had the pleasure to join my local community in opening the second pocket park in our community, which is delivering more open green space and tree canopy for our local community.

I just want to take these last few seconds to thank the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport and his department for helping me to deliver an increase in open green space in the Prospect and Ovingham communities, and also to local James Maybank, a passionate Ovingham local who came to me with a vision for the pocket park on that site. I also want to thank all the locals who joined me on Sunday to welcome this new open green space and increase tree canopy in our community.