South Australian Councils

The Hon. S.L. GAME (14:48): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before directing a question to the Hon. Clare Scriven, representing the Minister for Local Government, regarding South Australian councils and their responsibilities to ratepayers.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.L. GAME: A recent Advertiser report told of a Prospect couple forced to pay $8,500 to replace plumbing that was damaged by roots from a tree owned by their local council. Prospect council has refused to pay for the repairs, with a staff member quoting from the Local Government Act, telling the couple that the council acts as caretaker of street trees but is not responsible for their naturally occurring behaviour. My questions to the minister are:

1. Given the clear anomaly and unfairness evident in this case, plus others that have emerged anecdotally since, is the government open to changing the legislation?

2. Amid a cost-of-living crisis, does the government concede that councils should be responsible for this type of damage and associated repair costs, rather than individuals who play no role in where these trees are planted nor their maintenance?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:49): I am happy to refer that to the relevant minister in the other place and bring back a response.