Statutory Authorities Review Committee: Annual Reports

The Hon. J.E. HANSON (16:16): I move:

That the annual reports of the committee 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25 be noted.

As members are aware, the Statutory Authority Review Committee is a parliamentary standing committee whose five members are drawn solely from the Legislative Council. It was established in 1994 to make the operations of statutory authorities more open to detailed scrutiny. Its legislative functions are essentially to inquire into, consider and report on any statutory authority, including the authority's functions and need for it to continue to perform those functions, and whether the authority and its operations provide the most effective means for achieving the purposes for which the authority was established.

On behalf of the committee, I am pleased to present its 78^th, 79^th and 80^th reports, being the annual reports for the committee for the years I have already stated. The reports provide a summary of the committee's activities across those years. Instead of undertaking a formal inquiry into any particular statutory authority in 2022-23 and 2023-24, the committee resolved to hear from a series of statutory authorities in separate hearings in order to delve into various areas of each statutory authority's operations.

During 2022-23, the committee met on 13 occasions and heard hearings into six statutory authorities. The committee heard from three witnesses regarding the Legal Services Commission across two hearings and received evidence, including and in relation to, firstly, the criteria for a grant of aid for legal representation; secondly, the means, merit and guidelines tests for eligibility for legal aid; and, thirdly, the commission's membership and budget.

A focus of the committee's inquiry related to the commission's provision of services to remote and regional South Australian communities. The committee heard from three witnesses from the South Australian State Emergency Service and received evidence, including in relation to the current numbers of volunteers and how they are deployed; whether the COVID-19 pandemic impacted on volunteer numbers; the demographics of the service volunteer workforce; mental health counselling services for volunteers; and the service's role in the response to the River Murray flood event. The committee used the opportunity to understand more about the service and how it responds to natural disasters.

The committee heard from two witnesses from the Pharmacy Regulation Authority of South Australia and received evidence, including in relation to the telepharmacy services model that had been recently introduced into the state; regional pharmacies and their provision of COVID-19 vaccinations; and, lastly, the growing area of compounding pharmacies, which provide, of course, compounding medicines. The committee had an interest in ensuring the high standards of professional expertise and probity in relation to the delivery of pharmacy services.

The committee heard from four witnesses from the South Australian Ambulance Service and received evidence including and in relation to the roll out of the GoodSAM app, SAAS's Mental Health Co-Response Service, ambulance ramping, the allocation of funding towards and progress in building new ambulance stations and upgrading existing stations and, lastly, the recruitment and retention strategies in relation to the volunteer workforce force for SAAS. The committee had an interest in understanding more about how SAAS was performing against its objectives.

The committee heard from four witnesses from the South Australian Tourism Commission and received evidence, including in relation to the tourism voucher scheme to support the flood-impacted regions in the Riverland and Murraylands, the tourism levels since COVID-19, Tasting Australia, LIV Golf, Gather Round, the FIFA Women's World Cup, and the Sam Smith concert at McLaren Vale. The committee's interest included further developing and improving the state's tourism industry, particularly in light of the impacts of COVID-19.

The committee heard from two witnesses from the South Australian Motor Sport Board and received evidence including and in relation to the Adelaide 500 event and the Adelaide Motorsport Festival. The committee's interest was ensuring oversight of the board's targets.

During 2023-24 the committee met on 12 occasions and held hearings into seven statutory authorities. The committee heard from two witnesses from the Urban Renewal Authority, and received evidence including and in relation creating affordable housing, converting empty apartments into public housing, the extent of the authority's involvement in the delivery of the AUKUS submarine facility at Osborne, industrial and commercial developments that the authority is currently undertaking, and the Our Port development at Port Adelaide. The committee recognises the importance of the authority in contributing to the state's infrastructure and delivering economic and community outcomes for South Australia.

The committee heard from two witnesses from the Construction Industry Training Board and received evidence including and in relation to the extent of the success of the board's doorways2construction program, incentives for employees to keep on apprentices, and workforce diversification, including pathways for migrants into the construction sector and the take-up of adult apprenticeships. The committee recognised the importance of the board's work to attract, train and retain South Australian building and construction workers.

The committee heard from two witnesses from the State Courts Administration Council and received evidence on the State Courts Administration Council's progress in implementing the recommendations from the committee's inquiry into the State Courts Administration Council—Sheriff's Office report and the outcomes of the cultural change program being implemented in the Sheriff's Office. The committees focus was to retain oversight of the council's response to the recommendations arising from the committee's inquiry into the culture of the Sheriff's Office.

The committee heard from five witnesses from the South Australian Government Financing Authority and received evidence including in relation to how SAFA's investments are currently performing, SAFA's role with sustainability bonds, the proportion of electrical or hybrid vehicles in the state fleet, the current state debt levels, and the state's credit rating. The committee's hearing into SAFA's operations ensured oversight of those critical functions relating to the state's finances.

The committee heard from four witnesses from the Coast Protection Board and received evidence including and in relation to the board's grant programs, activities the board has undertaken in line with a recommendation into the state parliaments Environment, Resources and Development Committee's inquiry report, stakeholder engagement, the board's composition, and the board's key achievements in the last 12 months and the strategic priorities going forward. The committee's hearing aided its understanding of the conservation and protection of South Australia's beaches and coastal areas.

The committee heard from two witnesses from the Dog and Cat Management Board—one dog, one cat presumably—and received evidence including and in relation to whether the breeder registration program remains fit for purpose to meet the government's commitment to banning puppy factories, feedback from users of the Dog and Cats Online system regarding the extent to which the system is user-friendly, and the cost of registering a cat or a dog. The committee sought to ensure oversight of the state's dog and cat management laws.

The committee heard from two witnesses from the Aboriginal Lands Trust and received evidence from them, including and in relation to:

whether the trust had plans and funds in place to conduct independent valuations of trust lands and buildings;

whether the trust had developed a strategy to improve the financial processes relating to the whale watching centre;

the Davenport community facilities; and

the Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute.

The committee's hearing provided oversight of the trust's work for the ongoing benefit of Aboriginal South Australians.

In May 2024, the committee commenced a formal inquiry into the South Australian Museum and the Art Gallery of South Australia, particularly in response to the SA Museum Board's proposed new strategic direction, colloquially known, of course, as 'reimagining'. In 2024-25, the committee continued its inquiry into the South Australian Museum and the Art Gallery of South Australia. The committee received 84 written submissions from individuals and organisations as part of the inquiry, including from the South Australian Museum, the Art Gallery of South Australia, the Public Service Association of South Australia and the Royal Society of South Australia. The committee also held 13 hearings in relation to the inquiry to hear evidence from 23 witnesses.

The committee visited the South Australian Museum and its offsite storage facility. It also visited the Australian Museum and the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney and the Queensland Museum to hear about recent organisational restructures that these institutions had implemented, including how they undertook stakeholder engagement. The inquiry was not completed prior to the end of the 2024-25 financial year. The committee's report was tabled on 19 August 2025 and included 16 findings and 14 recommendations. The recommendations included that:

the boards of the Museum and the Art Gallery both retain their status as statutory authorities;

both acts and associated regulations be reviewed by the state government;

the Museum continue to implement the recommendations from the Premier's Review Panel;

best practice in governance be adopted by the boards of the Museum and the Art Gallery, especially with respect to financial reporting; and

a review be conducted by the state government, in consultation with stakeholders, into the financial sustainability of both the Museum and the Art Gallery.

Members of the committee and the committee staff had the opportunity to attend a number of conferences during the reporting periods. In July 2022, the committee attended the 16^th Biennial Australasian Council of Public Accounts Committee conference, which was held in Wellington, New Zealand. The Australasian Council of Public Accounts Committee (ACPAC) aims facilitate the exchange of information and opinion relating to the public accounts committees and to discuss matters of mutual concern. In April 2024, we also attended the 17^th Biennial ACPAC conference in Perth. At this conference I delivered a presentation regarding the South Australian Government Financing Authority's issuing of sustainability bonds.

I thank all honourable members, past and present, who served on the committee during the years of 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25 for their contribution to the committee. I also thank the committee staff members, including research officer Dr Merry Brown, for their service during these three annual reporting periods. I commend the committee's three reports to the council.

The Hon. J.S. LEE (16:27): I rise today to support the Hon. Justin Hanson's motion and to highlight the important work undertaken by the Statutory Authorities Review Committee. It has been a privilege to serve as a member of the Statutory Authorities Review Committee since 2022. The committee's remit is to investigate matters relating to the role, performance and continuing relevance of state instrumentalities and independent public bodies. I want to acknowledge the diligent work of the Presiding Member, the Hon. Justin Hanson, along with members of multiple parties who are on the committee.

The committee receives important insights into instruments and bodies responsible for many essential services and functions across our state, always with a focus on whether these bodies are achieving the most effective, efficient and economical means of operating and fulfilling their purposes.

During my time on the committee we heard evidence from a wide range of statutory authorities. This includes the Legal Services Commission, South Australian State Emergency Service, Pharmacy Regulation Authority SA, South Australian Ambulance Service, South Australian Tourism Commission, South Australian Motor Sport Board, Urban Renewal Authority, Construction Industry Training Board, State Courts Administration Council, South Australian Government Financing Authority, Coast Protection Board, Dog and Cat Management Board, Aboriginal Lands Trust and, of course, the South Australian Museum and Art Gallery of South Australia, as well as the Public Service Association of SA and the Royal Society of South Australia.

I particularly wish to highlight the committee's work inquiring into the South Australian Museum and the Art Gallery of South Australia. As honourable members would recall, the Statutory Authorities Review Committee inquired into the Museum following significant community concern about the proposed restructure announced by the board of SA Museum in 2023. The committee was best placed to conduct a more thorough inquiry into the SA Museum with the high level of scrutiny, independence and accountability that the South Australian community demanded and deserved.

I wish to thank everyone involved who presented themselves to the committee and offered expertise and invaluable insights throughout the SA Museum inquiry, especially those staff who provided evidence in spite of potential ramifications for their careers and reputations. I am very pleased that the inquiry delivered some very meaningful outcomes. You would have seen the tabled reports already.

Finally, in addition to thanking the Presiding Member and honourable members who served on the committee I also want to show my appreciation to the secretary, Mr Peter Dimopoulos, and principal research officer, Dr Merry Brown, for their diligence and assistance to the committee. It is truly appreciated.

Parliamentary committees are important because they allow for detailed and specialised inquiry that enhances government accountability through public scrutiny. More importantly, the process of parliamentary inquiries increases public participation in the policy-making space. With those remarks, I commend the motion.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. I.K. Hunter.