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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2020-09-23 Daily Xml
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Torrens Electorate

Ms WORTLEY (Torrens) (15:30): It is a privilege to represent the residents of Torrens, and when it comes to issues of concern to them, individually or collectively, I endeavour to assist them and, where possible, have their issues resolved. Sometimes it is simple, but on most occasions it requires input from a department and occasionally a minister. I have contacted government departments about a number of issues, sometimes requesting information, pointing out a problem and even offering a solution.

Under the Marshall Liberal government, the response from departments has been that they have referred it on to the minister, as they are not allowed to communicate on issues with me as the member, even when the issue needed an immediate response. The problem with this process is that, on all occasions except one, the response from the minister has taken weeks—sometimes as long as six weeks and still waiting. A recent example of this is when I received phone calls and visits to my office from Oakden residents about explosions and gunshots being heard during the day and night. One resident said an explosion was so big it shook the house.

I was out walking my dogs in Roy Amer Reserve in Oakden and I, too, heard the sound of multiple gunshots. These residents are in close vicinity to the Strathmont land, where the Strathmont pool was recently closed by this government. I understand that the site remains under the care and control of the Minister for Human Services. That afternoon, I followed up with a call to the Department of Human Services to try to ascertain what was happening at the site. I spoke with a person who told me residents had been notified about an exercise that was being carried out over a number of days.

The residents who live nearby and had contacted me told me that they had not received any notification. They were in the dark about what was going on. On requesting a copy of the notification to be emailed to me, I was told they would send me a copy by the following Tuesday—four days later. I explained that I had residents who were disturbed by the activities and even fearful. Why, if notification had already been sent to residents, could it not be immediately emailed to my office so that I could calm residents and assure them of their safety? I questioned the existence of such a letter.

I did not receive the letter by the Tuesday. In fact, a week later, I received an email from the department which read, 'I have been requested to ask that you direct your inquiries to the Minister for Police.' I immediately sent a letter to the Minister for Police by email. Two weeks later, I received a response from the Minister for Human Services, not the Minister for Police, stating that 50 residents were notified about SAPOL training—50 residents out of more than 2,500 residents who live in Oakden.

Why did it take the Minister for Human Services and her department 20 days to forward me a copy of a letter that it was alleged had been sent to 50 residents? It is a fact that many of the residents who contacted me were not in receipt of this notice. In my letter to the Minister for Police, I asked to be advised which streets received this notice and requested that for any future training exercises the residents, along with me as the state member, be notified.

I acknowledge this issue was under the jurisdiction of the former Minister for Police and Emergency Services and not the current minister. I acknowledge, too, the very important role of police and emergency services training. However, I am disappointed that as the state member for this area I was not notified of these events, nor were surrounding residents and community groups. It has been particularly difficult to get any information for weeks now and it creates a level of uncertainty within the community.

On a different subject matter but on the same issue of lack of communication by the government, I have spoken in this place about the North East Community Assistance Project (NECAP). In government, Labor gave an undertaking that NECAP would be relocated to a nearby suitable facility so that they could continue their great work in the community. In the lead-up to the election, the Liberals, too, made a commitment but there has been no answer from the government about when and where their new site will be.

Further to this, I am in regular discussion with North East Community Children's Centre, which have also been seeking an answer from the department and minister's office in relation to parking and accessibility issues for the more than 70 families and 20 staff who utilise the centre each day. As members of parliament, our electorate and our state of South Australia should be a priority. Good legislation that forms the basis of our governance, fair representation and assistance to members of our community is paramount.

My experience over the past 2½ years with the Marshall Liberal government is that it cares more about party politics than what is in the best interest of the community. Ministers are not responding. They are providing inadequate responses or taking weeks, even months, to reply.

Time expired.

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