PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES (MEMBERSHIP OF COMMITTEES) AMENDMENT BILL

Introduction and First Reading

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister Assisting the Premier in Public Sector Management) (15:24): Obtained leave and introduced a bill for an act to amend the Parliamentary Committees Act 1991. Read a first time.

Second Reading

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister Assisting the Premier in Public Sector Management) (15:25): I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

The bill amends the Parliamentary Committees Act 1991 to increase the number of members of two of the standing committees established by that act. The bill increases the membership of the Social Development Committee from six members to eight. It also increases the number of members of the Natural Resources Committee from seven to nine. The Social Development Committee currently has six members—three from each house. Its functions are to inquire into a range of health, welfare, education, recreation and occupation-related matters referred to it by either house, by the Governor or of its own motion.

The committee has previously reported on a range of matters, including gambling, prostitution, the South Australian Certificate of Education, supported accommodation, fast foods and obesity, bogus health practitioners, surrogacy and rural poverty. The Social Development Committee also has review and inquiry functions under other acts, including the Statutes Amendment (Recidivist Young Offenders and Youth Parole Board) Act 2009 and the Research Involving Human Embryos Act 2003. In respect of the Natural Resources Committee, section 15K(2) of the act currently states:

…four members of the committee must be members of House of the Assembly…and three must be members of the Legislative Council.

The committee is required by section 15L 'to take an interest in and keep under review' matters relating to the protection, use, management, enhancement, development and improvement of the natural resources of the state. It is further charged with a number of functions specifically relating to the River Murray. Other acts impose additional functions on the Natural Resources Committee, the best known being the consideration of levy proposals under the Natural Resources Management Act 2004.

The government thinks that both committees would benefit from an increase in membership. While each appointment to a committee is of course a matter for the appointing house, the government expects that an increase in the number of members will correspondingly increase each committee's diversity and broaden the range of experience the members bring to its inquiries. It is particularly important that these committees be able to ascertain how the matters into which they are inquiring affect all South Australians and to consider the views and needs of a wide range of people and groups. This ability will be enhanced by the committees themselves having a varied membership.

The bill increases the membership of these two committees only for the life of the current parliament. We do not know whether membership of later parliaments will continue to be as diverse as it is now. I commend the bill to the council and seek leave to have the explanation of clauses incorporated into Hansard without my reading them.

Leave granted.

Explanation of Clauses

Part 1—Preliminary

1—Short title

2—Amendment provisions

These clauses are formal.

Part 2—Amendment of Parliamentary Committees Act 1991

3—Amendment of section 14—Membership of Committee

The number of members constituting the Social Development Committee is to be altered from 6 members to 8 for the term of the 52^nd Parliament.

4—Amendment of section 15K—Membership of Committee

The number of members constituting the Natural Resources Committee is to be altered from 7 members to 9 for the term of the 52^nd Parliament.

5—Amendment of section 24—Procedure at meetings

This is a consequential amendment, and will provide that the quorum of a Committee consisting of 8 or 9 members will be 5 members.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. J.M.A. Lensink.