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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-03-08 Daily Xml
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CHRISTCHURCH EARTHQUAKE

Mr PICCOLO (Light) (14:13): My question is to the Premier. Will the Premier update the house on South Australia's efforts to assist the people of Christchurch following the recent devastating earthquake?

The Hon. M.D. RANN (Ramsay—Premier, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change) (14:13): First of all, I was in New Zealand on the weekend and I can tell honourable members that there is, at every level, extraordinary appreciation from the people of New Zealand for the assistance given by Australia during this terrible tragedy in the rescue, relief and recovery efforts, and also a real recognition of the work of South Australians in that process.

It was two weeks ago today that a violent and tragic earthquake ripped through our sister city of Christchurch in New Zealand, changing forever the lives of nearly all of its citizens. South Australia's immediate response was to extend the offer to help in any way we could and it has been heart-warming to see the way in which so many South Australians have generously devoted their time and effort to help the people of our sister city of Christchurch.

Yesterday morning, I had the privilege of attending a briefing session at Bonython Hall at Adelaide University for 170 young university students who had flown in from Christchurch from Adelaide on Sunday afternoon. These young people—mainly first and second year undergraduates—are enrolled at Canterbury University in Christchurch, and in some cases their faculty buildings currently lie in ruins or are in uncertain situations as a result of the violent earthquake 10 days ago.

The Vice-Chancellor of Adelaide University, Professor James McWha—who had previously worked at Canterbury University for 13 years—acted swiftly to provide for and accommodate these students to ensure that their studies are not held up by the rebuilding work that must now go on to re-establish adequate facilities for Canterbury University to continue.

Adelaide University was the first in Australia to put its hand up and organise for a group of students to come out here and make use of the excellent facilities it provides. Within days of the call going out, all 170 students were able either to be billeted with university staff or placed in student accommodation. The speed of organising such a substantial logistical task is a tribute to Professor McWha and his team at Adelaide University.

I hope those students will take a great deal from their 16-week stay here and form strong bonds—indeed, lifetime bonds—with Adelaide as a result. I hope to see them at the various functions—the Fringe and WOMADelaide. Also, of course, I am expecting to see a strong turn-out of the visiting students at the Rugby Sevens given the haka they performed yesterday for us.

I am sure that everyone is going to make these students very welcome. South Australia, of course, has been able to help in many other ways at the request of New Zealand authorities. A team of nine South Australian urban search and rescue specialists flew to Christchurch for 10 days last week to help with earthquake recovery. This group consisted of highly-skilled officers from the Metropolitan Fire Service, the State Emergency Service and the SA Ambulance Service.

I am informed that these urban search and rescue specialists are self-sufficient, highly-trained and well briefed in coping with potentially dangerous conditions in the very sad, ongoing search and recovery of people still missing in the rubble of so many buildings in Christchurch.

Remaining team members of the South Australian Search and Rescue Task Force continue to be on stand-by to assist with any further deployments to Christchurch or elsewhere if requested. In addition, 32 SAPOL officers are continuing to help their counterparts after being sworn in as special officers. I am informed that they are currently working 10-hour shifts, which allows for briefings, transport and deployments.

New Zealand police have also requested another four SAPOL specialists to assist with disaster victim identification. I want to thank—

The Hon. K.O. Foley: Twelve more police are going tomorrow.

The Hon. M.D. RANN: I have just been informed by the Minister for Police that another 12 police officers from SAPOL will be departing tomorrow for Christchurch. This, I think—

The Hon. K.O. Foley: Friday, sorry.

The Hon. M.D. RANN: Sorry, on Friday. This is a demonstration of our commitment to our sister city. New Zealand has always been there for us in the past as Australians during disasters. The ANZAC tradition continues.

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