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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2024-09-11 Daily Xml
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Eyre Peninsula

Mr TELFER (Flinders) (15:35): I rise today with a great deal of sadness to pay tribute to a pillar of the Eyre Peninsula community. Jo Clark, who was a driving figure behind mental health and wellness on the EP, passed away on Monday last week at the age of just 49. Jo's passion for community service lifted many of our community out of challenging personal circumstances, and helped drive the commitment of others towards community service.

Jo lived the challenges she fought against, experiencing homelessness in her younger years, which no doubt played a major role in her desire to see others avoid a similar fate. It was reflective of Jo's world view, that we can always do more to help those in need. Her efforts to provide tents and swags to those experiencing homelessness were, in her mind, not enough, because it did not solve the problem of homelessness but acted only as a temporary reprieve.

Jo's efforts were the precursor to an annual goods drive run by West Coast Youth in conjunction with the local radio station Magic 89.9, ensuring those without the means to support themselves do not go without in the colder months, with electrical goods, furniture, canned food and children's toys among the items donated.

However, Jo's greatest contribution was in the mental wellness space, in establishing Mentally Fit EP alongside the late Kirsty Traeger. Mentally Fit EP is perhaps the flagship program of the West Coast Youth & Community Support organisation, reaching out to those with personal demons and providing a sympathetic ear when times are tough. Its ongoing work is a testament to the vision of both Jo and Kirsty.

Jo's personal challenges in her younger years saw her embraced by a local Aboriginal community, a debt that Jo was ever passionate to repay, and her commitment to the Mallee Park Football Club reflected her life's dedication to community service, with Jo even, at one stage, taking up the coaching clipboard for the club.

Jo was also passionate in reaching out to the youth of our community, determined to listen and to act on what they had spoken of rather than what others believed would be their concerns. It is one thing to let people speak but another altogether to take on board what people are saying and then act faithfully on those wishes, something Jo was particularly good at.

Jo was always focused on serving the community, and even when she was acknowledged with community awards she did not celebrate them as a pat on the back for herself but instead as a reminder of how few people were genuinely committed to community service, as well as a reminder that more needed to be done.

Jo served the Eyre Peninsula faithfully. Sadly, being in parliament today meant I could not be at her funeral, but I understand it was standing room only, which is a perfect reflection of the impact she had in our community. I would like to pass on my love and condolences to her family and friends. We are better off for her time with us and far worse for her loss. Vale Jo Clark, and thank you.

Financial challenges being faced by South Australians are seemingly being ignored by this state government. Since this government came to power two years ago, inflation has been consistently ranked amongst the worst in the nation, with the cost of utilities rising more than 10 per cent in the last quarter compared with a national rise of just under 4 per cent. This is impacting on the lives of individuals and families all around our state.

The typical South Australian family is close to $25,000 a year worse off since Peter Malinauskas became Premier, and it is starting to really hurt our communities. At the election, this Labor government promised no new taxes and no tax increases, but instead have chosen to significantly hike up South Australia Water bills for South Australian households and businesses.

The cost of electricity, the cost of water, the cost of complying with government regulation and red tape is hitting business and our community hard. We heard some examples of these cost pressures and how it is hurting business during question time. That cost is being passed on to our communities. We also heard in question time that this government is not taking any responsibility for the impact which their policy decisions are having on some of those costs, such as electricity. Indeed, we heard the minister use the Ukraine and Russia as part of his excuses.

Regarding their flagship hydrogen energy policy, the government has already admitted that it will not have any downward pressure on electricity prices in South Australia, while we have the highest energy prices in the country. This government is ignoring South Australians in a cost-of-living crisis.

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