Stuart Electorate

The Hon. G.G. BROCK (Stuart) (15:37): Today, I would like to enlighten my communities as to the great communities that I have had the pleasure of visiting in the last 10 days. First, I had the opportunity to visit Coober Pedy over a weekend recently. I spent two days up there and during that time I had what I call listening posts. I was able to have private one-on-one discussions with over 30 people so they were confidential. I also had the great opportunity to better understand the issues that may be confronting the residents and the concerns about both council roads and state government roads.

I had discussions with members of the RSL. The RSL up there is an absolutely fantastic organisation and I had a great meal on the Sunday night. I had discussions with the miners' association, tourist operators, business operators and also the Community Alliance Association, which is working together with the community to understand a bit better the opportunities.

I also had the opportunity to visit the shooters club. I must make it quite clear in this house that I had the opportunity to handle a gold-plated 45 magnum and I will make it public that I did not fire it. I was under very strict supervision and I must admit I did not fire it, even though I used to have a licence when I was at the smelters.

The following Wednesday I had the great privilege of opening the new barge at Cooper Creek on the Birdsville Track. This is a joint project between the state government and the federal government, and it has been a long time coming. It is a $27½ million project and it allows the people from both sides, specifically the cattle trucks, to get their cattle to the markets down in the south but also people from the south to get to their cattle on the northern side. These discussions between the community, the pastoralists, the station owners and the state government were the most collaborative and best I have ever seen. Minister Bourke from the other place was at the Mungerannie Hotel and she talked directly to the people there. I also want to sincerely thank David Bell and Sharon Oldfield for their great work there.

This great partnership between the state and federal governments and the local communities, as I said, has resulted in an everlasting barge facility, which is far better than the one that operated over 50 years ago when I was the area manager for BP Australia. This can carry a cattle truck with two trays, whereas the other one had a car only.

Last weekend, there was a great turnout at the Rotary Club of Campbelltown Drought Muster at Hawker, which was attended by lots of young families facing great challenges from previous droughts. The community there is very well looked after and the Rotary Club of Campbelltown had lots of prizes. I give credit to everybody there.

I also had the opportunity to attend the Carrieton Gymkhana and Motorkhana, which was on the same day. It was a great event. Another event I attended was the Bundaleer Forest's 150^th year celebrations, officially opened by Her Excellency Frances Adamson AC. This event was extremely well attended and was organised by the local committee chaired by Greg Boston.

Yesterday, I also had the opportunity to attend a heartwarming citizenship ceremony at Port Augusta conducted by Mayor Linley Shine. There were 21 new Australians sworn in as citizens of Australia. When I go to the citizenship ceremonies for the Port Augusta City Council, Mayor Linley Shine brings me in as an ex-mayor (and I had the opportunity to do lots of citizenship ceremonies as mayor) and she also gives me the opportunity to speak to the new citizens. That was an absolutely heartwarming ceremony yesterday and 21 new citizens is the most I have ever seen in a regional area.

This morning, I drove back to Port Pirie and attended the Remembrance Day service at Port Pirie RSL. It was absolutely fantastic. It was good to see a lot of young people there. The schools did the presentations. I pay tribute to the Port Pirie RSL for conducting the Remembrance Day service. I also want to pay tribute to the high school and the primary schools for allowing their students to attend the Remembrance Day ceremony and to do the presentations and also the students' prayer.