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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2008-10-28 Daily Xml
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BARTON, DR A.

The Hon. G.M. GUNN (Stuart) (15:52): I, like the member for Giles, wish to say one or two things about Dr Archie Barton who was well known to me. During the time that he was the administrator of the Maralinga lands and I had an office in Ceduna, I had many occasions to discuss issues and matters with him. I commend him for the work that he did on behalf of the Maralinga people. The member for Giles did not mention his trip to London when they received compensation from the British government. Can I say to the member that, when they were planning that trip—and they had great difficulty opening the right doors—I was able to assist them by speaking to Lord Stanley, whose daughter lived in my constituency and who was a friend of the deputy defence minister and, within a very short time, I was able to get Dr Barton and his group a meeting. Can I say that the left wing lawyers whom he had with him would never had got through the door, not dealing with the Thatcher government. I was very happy because I believe that the people at Maralinga did have right upon their side.

Further to that, a British parliamentary delegation came to South Australia and, as part of their visit, we took them to Maralinga so that they could meet with the community. They were very interested in what they had to say. I give full credit to Archie Barton. I knew him well. In his early days, he worked at Legg Station, which is also very well-known to me. I pass on my good wishes to his family. Even though there were a few difficulties in the latter part of his life, I think he gave his best endeavours to the Aboriginal people.

The second issue I raise is that I thought we in South Australia were aware of the great challenges and difficulties facing people in rural areas and the stress and trauma that many people are under, and that the bureaucracy and the government agencies are not there to make life difficult for them. Yesterday, a constituent phoned me. He was carting a tank from Wirrabara to Oodlawirra where he has cattle and they were out of water. On the way, an enthusiastic police officer gave him a $500 on-the-spot fine, alleging it was 50 centimetres too high.

I put it to the house that that is an absolute nonsense and I want to know what police department administration is doing because, when that legislation went through this house, the Minister for Transport gave certain undertakings. I suggest to the police that they go back and have a look at those.

Further, about a fortnight ago, another constituent brought to my attention that his truck was travelling along Highway 1 when he was given a notice of direction relating to mass dimension or load restraint breach, No. ND000721. I am told that the exhaust of the truck was, I think, 30 centimetres too high and that the driver was made to get up onto the cabin with a hacksaw and cut it off. I am told that was an illegal act, that that is a breach of the occupational health and safety laws. That is the sort of nonsense that occurs. I have the form here, but I cannot read the name of the officer. I do have the number, which is 793—and I can't read the rest of it. But this is just the first step, if this is the silly nonsense they want to go on with.

It is bad enough that some of the silly nonsense has taken place down at Gladstone, with the police officer there, but if this is what they want, then okay, this is what they are going to get. If they want questions on notice, well, they are going to start tomorrow. I would rather that things were done sensibly, and I thought that we were aware that these people are under great stress. In these circumstances common sense should prevail, and it should not be the will of the government to make life as difficult as possible and to be as bureaucratic as it can.

I want to know whether police officers are directed to issue so many tickets and to stop so many vehicles each day, each week, or in a prescribed period. If that is the case, it is wrong and it is unwise. Are the undertakings that the minister gave going to be adhered to, or are words spoken and undertakings given in this place not worth the paper they are printed on?

Time expired.

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