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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2024-02-07 Daily Xml
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Bills

Electoral (Control of Corflutes) Amendment Bill

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 17 May 2023.)

The Hon. D.G. PISONI (Unley) (10:32): I rise to support this bill, but before doing so I want to put on the record that, with the conversation on ABC radio this morning, where the Deputy Premier raised the prospect of, or made commentary about, the bill being scheduled for private members' business today, this is the first time that the government has allowed any debate on this bill.

Mr Odenwalder: That's not true, David.

The SPEAKER: Member for Elizabeth!

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: The member is saying it is not true, but that is not true. There have been speeches, but there has been no debate to take it through to the vote. This bill was actually put to this place by the previous government. We own this bill. This bill was rejected by the Labor Party in opposition. It has been rejected. There has been division after division after division to disagree with the adjournment motion that has been put by the Speaker and moved by the government every time this bill has come up in the last two years, basically, in this place. Now there is a sense of urgency by the government.

Private business works like this: it is the members' business, and items are listed. When there is a change to the item required, it is negotiated between the government and the opposition. What do we see today? Bullyboy, the member for West Torrens, the Leader of Government Business, comes in here with a formal motion. The first time the member managing the opposition business was aware of it was when he heard it coming out of the mouth of the member for West Torrens, the Leader of Government Business.

It is not a courteous way of doing business. It is, again, the Labor Party seeing a political opportunity—either that, or they are covering up for the Deputy Premier making up policy on the run on the radio when being asked questions. Whatever it is, the government has for its own political reasons opposed the bill when in opposition. They opposed the bill time and time again when they had opportunities to pass this bill. But today, because of a media interview, all of a sudden it is important to them. That is how Nick Xenophon used to operate: whatever the issue of the day was, there would be a political response suggested, and we know what happened to Mr Xenophon. It is not sustainable.

Of course we support the bill. We are pleased that the government has come around, but you have got to question the conversion on the road to Damascus by the Labor government on this. What is the motivation? Is it really the same motivation that the opposition has, where we believe it is an important environmental proposal and that it is long overdue—being the only state, as I understand it, that allows Stobie poles and public property all around the state to be covered with election posters not just at state elections but also at local government elections?

This is a good bill. It is a bill that modernises the political system here in South Australia. It is a bill that has been delayed for years by the Labor Party, in opposition and when they are in government. At any time, they could have moved their own government bill, which would have had full support from the South Australian Liberal Party and delivered the same thing that the Leader of the Opposition has had on the Notice Paper for nearly two years.

I think politics is a funny thing. What is disappointing about today is that we were very successful in negotiations with the two parties in managing the quite clumsy, I think, and inflexible method of notices of motion with changes to sessional orders last year. That was done in a cooperative manner. I use the opportunity to thank the member for Elizabeth for the relationship that we have developed as whips over time. We are both very straight down the line with each other. That is why I was very surprised not to be made aware of the government's desire to move this up.

Of course we would have supported it, but the precedent has been set now. The government has bullied its way in without even talking, not even talking, to the opposition. There are a number of other members who have bills ahead of this bill. Yes, we would have agreed; of course we would have agreed. But, again, it is the bullying tactics and the arrogance of those opposite who simply use their numbers. They did it yesterday in trying to cover their embarrassment over the public holiday naming debacle. They did it yesterday by suspending standing orders with very little notice, and today there was no notice at all that there is a change to the order in which the government would like to address private members' bills this morning.

Of course, we welcome the ability to complete this bill, because it is an important bill. It is overdue, and we support the bill, because it is our bill. It is our bill but it is at least four years behind in implementation. We would have had an election in 2022 without corflutes—both a state election and a council election and a by-election—if the government, the Labor Party, when in opposition, had supported the Liberal government's bill when it went through the parliament in the previous term of government.

We support this bill. I congratulate the Leader of the Opposition. He was an excellent environment minister, a realist and a minister who responded to the concerns that people had with real solutions, not pointing to things that the state government has no control about and saying, 'Someone should do something about that,' which is what you tend to hear from the left. He actually had skin in the game, making some real decisions for sustainable economic and environmental solutions and engaging the private sector in environmental solutions. This is very important, of course, because we have to have a sustainable economy as well as a sustainable environment. There is no doubt that the Leader of the Opposition, the member for Black, achieved a number of those measures.

A lot was done in four years. It is interesting that time and again the government tend to compare what they did in 16 years with what we did in four years. It is quite extraordinary that they see that as being the same—that in their casual approach they need 16 years to do something that the Liberal government was able to do in four years, or, if we did not do the same in four years as what they did in 16 years, that for some reason we failed. It is quite extraordinary really, quite extraordinary.

But that is the debate. That is where it has gone. I welcome the ability to be able to debate and complete this bill. I suspect the government is going to support it, and I welcome that. They have not indicated that yet, but I suspect they are going to support it. Consequently, we are pleased that that is the situation.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Energy and Mining) (10:42): The government will support the private member's bill. I can indicate to the house that the government will support the speedy passage of this legislation. This is a bill whose time has come.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I note that members are laughing while their leader was on radio today saying he hoped the bill would pass today. It has been a very interesting debate so far. There is outrage that we are debating this bill, despite—

Mr Cowdrey: Yes, outrage at your hypocrisy. That's what the outrage is at—your hypocrisy.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS:—the interjections opposite—

Mr Cowdrey: Jeez, you've had a good week, haven't you, Tom.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: What was that?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister has the call.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: The shadow treasurer cannot control his interjections without playing the man, and I would ask him to follow my example.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for West Torrens, there is a point of order, which I am bound to hear and will hear.

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: Point of order: it is against standing orders to respond to interjections.

The SPEAKER: That may be and it is, in fact, and I encourage the minister not to respond to interjections. It occurs to me, too, that the interjections are, indeed, out of order and that that might have been the point first made. In any case, minister.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: We thank the Leader of the Opposition for bringing this before the house. I note his comments on radio today, where he hoped there would be a speedy passage of this legislation despite the remarks of the Opposition Whip and the laughs and jeers from his colleagues.

This is an important reform. I do note that the Leader of the Opposition in the last election did not himself display corflutes, which was an interesting sign of solidarity with his colleagues. Nevertheless, I thought it was interesting.

An honourable member: In the manner of Michael Atkinson.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: In the manner of Michael Atkinson.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: You have so much in common.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: You probably do, yes. Actually, I am having him in today; you can come past and say hello.

Having heard the comments on the radio from the Hon. Robert Simms, it is clear to the government that there is a consensus in the house, and almost every other group, that this is a measure whose time has come and, as we head towards a by-election, it seems timely to take action on this issue.

There is legislation before the house. I know members opposite are very keen to have this legislation passed—and I see them all nodding in agreement, thinking it is a great idea—and I look forward to its speedy passage. I am sure members cannot wait to see the Leader of the Opposition's key policy be implemented just before this by-election; I am sure it is going to be one of their crowning victories here in the parliament.

So congratulations to the Leader of the Opposition. He has been a fierce advocate for this policy, in particular. I think it is about to pass the house and potentially pass the other house, and potentially be in place in time to be tested, and we can see the fruits of it. I look forward to the speedy passage of this legislation, and I thank the member for Black for doing this.

To be honest, we had this debate about single-use plastic, and I remarked to the Leader of the Opposition that I had been using the same corflutes since 1997.

An honourable member: You haven't aged a bit.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I have aged, I have changed a bit; I have mellowed over time.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: All those ketones, you reckon? No, I do not do ketones. Sir, I think it will be interesting to see the change. I think it is also pretty obvious that, overwhelmingly, the public want this change.

It is interesting to note people's perceptions of corflutes. They hate them, but they are also an indication that elections are on, and it gives them an awareness of who the candidates are. However, this will also encourage members of parliament and candidates to be a lot more active in their local communities rather than relying on corflutes.

It is a very good environmental outcome and probably a good community outcome. It improves the amenity of suburbs in between election campaigns, and we can get back to the old-fashioned knocking on doors, and meeting with people in parks and walkways to talk about local issues, rather than just relying on plastering a picture on Stobie poles, as attractive as we all are and how we would argue that we improve the amenity of the area—some more than others, some less so than others. It is a good outcome for the people of South Australia. I sincerely congratulate the Leader of the Opposition on this victory.

Mr COWDREY (Colton) (10:47): I rise today to discuss my support of this bill. It is what I have supported in previous iterations in the previous parliament for very obvious reasons—and the member for West Torrens rightfully articulated a number of those.

I will not take up too much of the house's time with this contribution, because I have put forward a lengthy contribution in past debates as to why I support this legislation. We know that the general public in South Australia has supported a move to this end for quite a period of time, and there is a general consensus view that the use of corflutes is not environmentally friendly, despite the best efforts of the member for West Torrens, who has certainly been doing his bit.

However, other candidates, other political campaigns, occur from time to time, and these corflutes are often used once and once only. Sometimes they are repurposed for other uses, but collectively there is a general view that it is not the most environmentally friendly outcome to use plastics in this way.

They are viewed to be unsightly. It has been pointed out by many that they are often a danger and a distraction while driving on our local roads. In a view to find a way to make the amenity of our suburbs better, it would make sense to not have these up anymore. It is not that we are the first jurisdiction in Australia to make this move. There are others that have different restrictions around corflutes in public places and corflutes being used more generally, and in some ways we are simply getting in line with a push that has occurred more broadly.

Unlike those opposite, my voting record on this issue is consistent. I have supported this bill previously, and I support this bill now. The member for West Torrens threw allegations of hypocrisy around in this house. This, sir, is writ large with hypocrisy.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Colton has the call. The member for West Torrens is called to order.

Mr COWDREY: How many times—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The interjections will cease. The member for West Torrens is warned.

Mr COWDREY: How many times have we had Labor members come into this house and into the other place to vote against similar legislation? What has changed? One can only draw a conclusion. One can only connect two dots. What has changed? The Labor Party's clear view must be that it is now in their best interests to ban corflutes, because we know it is not about principle on that side of the house.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr COWDREY: It is not about principle; it is about politics, and it always has been about politics. Why? Again, one can only join the dots. The Malinauskas Labor government is running scared. This is a thinly veiled excuse. They are scared of their own record on health because they know that it is completely unpalatable to the broader South Australian public but more so the people of Dunstan. They were happy two years ago almost to the day to have corflutes up and down roads in South Australia, scaring South Australians, but now, no, things have to change. It is not about principle; it is about politics, and it always has been on that side of the house.

My record is consistent. My voting record is consistent on this issue.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr COWDREY: I will be supporting this bill—proudly supporting this bill—

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for West Torrens!

Mr COWDREY: —but the question has to be asked not just by people on this side of the house but by the South Australian public: why now? Why now does the Labor Party come to support this? There is only one answer: they are terrified of their own record. This is the third bill in a row in the opening week of sitting for the year, and it is a Labor Party following the opposition. This is the worst week the Malinauskas Labor government has had, and long may that continue. The Liberal Party is setting the agenda in this house this week. This should have happened five years ago. It is happening now.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr COWDREY: You blocked it, and you know that. You voted against this bill passing.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Schubert! Member for Waite! The exchanges are unhelpful. Member for Flinders! The member for Colton has the call.

Mr COWDREY: Let the hypocrisy be writ large. We know why the Labor Party is supporting this bill now. It is a pity it has taken five years for them to come to the party and do what South Australians want.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Heysen, your leader is on his feet.

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS (Black—Leader of the Opposition) (10:54): I am delighted to close debate after almost two years of this bill being on the Notice Paper. I am very pleased to hear today from the member for West Torrens that the government has made a decision to provide us with support for the Electoral (Control of Corflutes) Amendment Bill 2023.

This has been something that I have been advocating for, for the best part of five years now. I think it is fundamentally in step with the views of the South Australian public. Poll after poll, undertaken by media outlets, has made it very clear that South Australians do not like the visual pollution of these posters and they do not like the fact that they are made up of single-use plastics. They are rarely re-used. Some members do re-use them but many do not, and the ones that have single messages associated with elections, of course, do not get re-used again. They generate tonnes of single-use plastic pollution every electoral cycle, and their time has come.

I am delighted to have been able to drive forward this legislation. I made efforts when I was the environment minister to move this legislation which was, unfortunately, unsuccessful in the Legislative Council, despite passing the House of Assembly in 2021; and, of course, in 2022 and 2023 I have tried to advance legislation to ban election posters in this place.

It is fundamental to my motivation as a parliamentarian to look after our natural environment. It is one of my driving motivations to be in this place. It is one of the things that led me into local council in 2010. It led me to put my hand up for Liberal Party preselection in 2012, and I entered this place in 2014 and served as environment minister for four years. We were able to get a ban through on a range of single-use plastics in 2020 which saw straws and plastic cutlery and plastic bowls and things like that removed from our waste stream.

That legislation continues, picked up by the government and supported when Labor came into power. It sets up a regime where we will see a whole range of items banned into the future. This is good for South Australia. We have had a great heritage when it comes to dealing with plastic pollution, whether you go back to the 1977 container deposit legislation which saw 5¢ and later 10¢ placed on our plastic bottles, tin cans and the like. In 2008 we then had a ban on the light plastic bags at point of sale, and then the 2020 ban on a range of single-use plastic items. South Australia has a great heritage here.

We have lagged behind other states in one area and that has been the ban on election corflute posters. Now, with the passage of this legislation, the Liberal Party's legislation—legislation that I am proud to have been able to support and drive forward over several years—if it passes this house today and, hopefully, the Legislative Council at some point in the very near future, we will see election posters removed from public infrastructure and removed from public roadways.

People are still free, of course, to express their political opinions by putting up posters on private land. That is completely acceptable and should be celebrated as part of our liberty around freedom of speech. That is a fundamental part of what our country is all about, so we may still see some posters appear on private property. That is fine, you can do that, but let's not use our Stobie poles, our lampposts, up and down streets and highways across Adelaide and regional South Australia to display the faces of politicians and election messages.

As the member for West Torrens highlighted, I took a bit of a punt actually in 2022 and did not put election posters up. That concerned some of my colleagues, I am sure. My volunteers were delighted because they did not need to put them up. They got out of that onerous activity, because it is not the most exciting activity to undertake. But at the end of the day, I think I made the right choice not to do that in 2022, supporting this legislation as the right choice for South Australia, and I look forward to the ban of single-use plastic election posters in South Australia.

Bill read a second time.

Third Reading

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS (Black—Leader of the Opposition) (11:00): I move:

That this bill be now read a third time.

Bill read a third time and passed.

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