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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-05-11 Daily Xml
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Listening to South Australians

Ms LUETHEN (King) (14:15): My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier please update the house on the importance of listening to South Australians?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:15): I thank the member for King—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —for the very important question. We are all elected to come into this place to represent the people of South Australia and to listen to the people who elected us, not just the narrow—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for West Torrens is warned.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —interests represented by those opposite. We know that the people of South Australia have an interest in different pieces of legislation before—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Cheltenham is warned.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Last week—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Members on my left!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Last week, I formed the opinion that a piece of legislation which was important to the people of South Australia was in danger of not being progressed through this chamber and this parliament, and that is exactly and precisely why we have moved, like we have, to create additional time to address this particular issue. Because we are listening to the people of South Australia, we know there is an overwhelming interest in making sure that we can respectfully address this complicated, complex and, at times, emotional issue. We did not want that language, like we saw time and time again—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Members on my left!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —from those opposite. We are also listening to people when it comes to issues like the deregulation of shop trading hours. We went to the last election saying very clearly that we supported further deregulation of shop trading hours. Let me tell you, sir, the people of South Australia want further deregulation of shop trading hours; they voted for further deregulation of shop trading hours. But have they had them?

Honourable members: No.

The SPEAKER: Member for Playford!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: No, because the Leader of the Opposition and his trade union mates have decided they don't want them. It's not good enough—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Members on my left, order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —for the people of South Australia to decide. Even before the bill is before the house, the Leader of the Opposition has ripped it up. He has torn up the contract. Don't worry about listening to the people of South Australia. Don't worry about creating more jobs here in South Australia. Don't worry about the disadvantage that we are at here in South Australia compared to other parts of the country—no interest to the Leader of the Opposition whatsoever. He's just listening to his trade union mates. Well, that's not good enough.

He has form. Is this the first time he hasn't listened to the people of South Australia? Not likely at all. The Repat—over 100,000 people said they didn't want the Repat closed. They camped on the steps of the parliament for more than 100 days in the middle of winter, taking a very clear stand. Did the Leader of the Opposition listen then? He didn't care whatsoever. He closed that hospital.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The leader!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: He dealt a devastating blow to the aspirations of so many people who know that the Repat has been such an iconic centre of excellence over a long period of time, and he of course simultaneously cut a real hole in the capability of the southern suburbs, but he didn't care. He wasn't listening. We are listening. We listened to the people with regard to the Repat hospital and now we can see the consequences. We are continuing to listen to the people of South Australia who want to see further deregulation of shop trading hours. It begs the question: what would it take with those opposite to not listen to the—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —the guy who is under the thumb of the trade union movement?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Lee!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: What would it take for them to actually make a decision in the best interests of the people of South Australia? More than 75 per cent of South Australians want this to go through. Do they want to listen to that? No. What would it take: 80 per cent, 85, 90 per cent, or is it just the trade union movement? Do we just need one person, one person to say, 'It's okay'? It's not good enough. It's time for the opposition to start listening to the people of South Australia.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my left! The time for answering the question has expired. Before I call the leader, I call to order the member for Chaffey, I warn for a second time the member for Cheltenham, I warn the member for Hurtle Vale, I call to order the Minister for Trade and Investment and the member for Wright, I warn for a second time the member for Playford and I call to order the member for Reynell, the Minister for Education and the member for Lee.

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