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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-05-14 Daily Xml
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Supply Bill 2025

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 13 May 2025.)

Ms HUTCHESSON (Waite) (16:33): The residents of Upper Sturt have had a few restless nights as they have listened to the sweet sounds of their main road being resurfaced. One local texted me, claiming, 'Sorry, it's late. What an awesome sound: trucks and bitumen.' When I agreed that it was an excellent outcome but apologised for the noise, she responded with, 'What noise? Who cares? Thank you for your hard work on this.'

From Fairway Drive to Footts Hill Road there has been a full resurface, including fixing the camber on one of the main bends, which has been a huge problem for the community. As a member of the local CFS I know this only too well, because we have had to attend many car accidents there. So I was really pleased to point that out to the department staff when they came out, and I am pleased that it is being fixed.

There is also significant patching between Footts Hill Road up to the CFS station, and also along Upper Sturt Road down to Belair Railway Station as well. I know from many in the community who travel that road that they are very pleased with how it is going, including removing a very dangerous bump over a tree root, which has caused all sorts of problems for our cyclists. I am very pleased to be able to see that this road is finally getting the work done that it needs. It was a crumbling state of affairs and it is being rectified. Having advocated for this very strongly, I am very happy to put up with the interrupted sleep. This morning my son called me and asked me to pass on his approval for the work done as well, so thank you to all involved.

These are not the only residents and motorists enjoying new surfaces, or the prospects of them: Old Belair Road and James Road have had significant patching making the drive a much smoother ride. Main Road Coromandel Valley was also resurfaced and Shepherds Hill Road has had resurfacing as well.

Recently we got on with fixing Belair Road and its stability. The previous government managed it with some patching, but over the last few months we have carried out significant retaining works, including being able to use gabion walls, which are very sympathetic to the area and to the view from the flat, with beautiful rocks in there. It is holding the road up and it is now in a much better position to last. Now that this retaining work has been done, over the next few weeks Belair Road, from Windy Point down to the bottom, is also receiving significant surface restoration. I drove on it last night and I can tell you it has made a huge difference.

There are also upcoming bridge works on the Sturt Bridge in Bellevue Heights and the state roads around us are looking and feeling good. These are all excellent investments and we all need to continue to work to make sure our roads are safe. This week there are also site investigations occurring at the Grange Road railway crossing to inform the department for the best steps forward to make this rail crossing safe. It is part of a larger project to make our rail crossings as safe as they can be and to keep our communities and all those who travel—whether by train, pedestrians, cyclists or motorists—as safe as possible.

Speaking of train stations, the Belair Railway Station heritage shelter was finally restored last year and I was really pleased to be able to advocate to get this work done. It is something that the Friends of Belair have wanted for a really long time. It is an incredibly beautiful shelter and with the work done, through the department and Keolis Downer, we were able to completely restore the shelter.

We had a fantastic celebration there, inviting the whole community to come along, including a beautiful cake made by the excellent Banana Boogie Bakery. It was fantastic to see the smiles on the faces of the volunteers. They really felt that all the work they do in that station was brought together by the unveiling of this station. Last week we were finally able to unveil the plaque as well. I want to thank all the Friends of Belair Station and all the stations that we have along the way, who take such good care of the gardens and the stations. We really benefit from the work that they do, so I thank them. There are a lot of road improvements and rail improvements, and I am glad to see them finally occurring.

Last year, also within the budget, I was very pleased to share the news that Bellevue Heights Primary School were receiving funding to construct new classrooms. After years of not even being able to use their classroom block due to asbestos, they are very excited about what this means for their school. Like many of the schools in my area, they are relying on transportable buildings, and having a new building with new facilities will allow them to continue to deliver the excellent and inclusive program that they do.

Our community of Waite is actually very well positioned when it comes to health care and when they need it, they get it. Having given birth to my child at Flinders Medical Centre, supported him through a tonsillectomy and more recently an emergency visit when he broke his foot, Flinders is never far away for us. With family who have worked and continue to work there, I am often furnished with ideas of how things can be improved and I am very much looking forward to seeing some of the incredible infrastructure improvements there.

With the expansion of the Margaret Tobin Centre supporting our community members who struggle with their mental health, it is fantastic to know that we continue to be able to build on what we have there. The plans for the rooms are really thoughtful with a relaxed environment and modern facilities, which will definitely assist those who are seeking help. We are increasing the number of beds at the Margaret Tobin Centre from 38 to 48, which includes a new 12-bed psychiatric intensive care unit, and this expansion will make a big difference to those who need to access care within our community.

In a much bigger asset renewal, the state and federal governments together are investing in the new wing of the Flinders Medical Centre, which will be a real game changer for health access in our community. Partnering with the Albanese Labor government, we are delivering a major $498 million expansion of the Flinders Medical Centre, which will establish 160 more hospital beds across the centre, including the Repat. This suite of works has already delivered 32 beds, specifically for older persons at the Repat, as well as 46 more beds at Flinders.

Nearby, our community members are also benefiting from the increased number of ambulances and paramedics that are available with the opening of the Edwardstown Ambulance Station. Along with the Mitcham and Sturt stations, members of our community have the help nearby when they need it. If they do not need to go to hospital but they do need medication in the middle of the night, it was fantastic to see our Clovelly Park 24/7 pharmacy open. That is not very far away from us. You never know when sickness will strike. It is usually in the middle of night if you are the parent of a young toddler, and I am really grateful that this pharmacy is not too far from us so as to be able to go down and get the medication that is needed.

Speaking of pharmacies, I was really proud to be part of the select committee looking into the UTI medication prescription and working to have it able to be provided at a pharmacy level. With the member for Badcoe as our Chair, we have recommendations to have not only the medication available without having to go to a GP but also the education that comes with it, letting more of our community know that if they have a problem they will not have to wait to see their GP, when getting onto the appropriate medication is imperative to limit the impact of the illness. I appreciate the work that the health minister did with the member for Badcoe to be able to make this happen.

From one select committee to another that I have been involved with—and this is the one that I chaired, the inquiry into endometriosis. It was an incredible journey, as a sufferer, to hear from other women and those who are gender-diverse as to their experiences. Impacting one in seven women it has been long overdue that this is in the spotlight, and I was very pleased that our government accepted all the recommendations of our committee in principle, and I am very much appreciative of the support that I have from the Minister for Health and I look forward to seeing the outcomes of our recommendations.

My Friends of Parks and Nature groups have been very busy within our community. The work they do and the hours they give adds up to so much, and we are incredibly fortunate that we have so many dedicated volunteers. Our government continues to support all of our friends groups bringing through the 2024-25 grants program, and I was really pleased to see many of the groups in my area being successful with their applications.

The Friends of the Shepherds Hill Recreation Park received just short of $15,000, the Friends of Blackwood Forest received $15,000 to help them refurbish the Minnow Creek and East West Creek, and the Friends of Belair National Park were successful with their application also for $15,000 to help control boneseed, the infestation of which I remember has been a problem for a really long time. As an attendee of the Belair Primary School we used to walk down to the national park to pull out the boneseed weeds. That was quite a long time ago and I am glad that we are able to support our volunteers to continue the work to eradicate that pest. It is a challenging job and they really need to anchor down because being able to pull those weeds out is a lot of hard work.

The Friends of Belair National Park were also successful with a further $5,000 to help them with small bulb weed control. These groups deserve all the help they can get, and we are eternally grateful for the work they do. I am also pleased to note that many of the wonderful sports clubs in my area have been successful with Active Club grants and I look forward to catching up with them to celebrate in the next few weeks.

In our 2024-25 budget we allocated the money needed to do a proper audit of CFS stations to ensure the greater picture of what the needs are across the state. There are well-known stories of stations that are in desperate need of upgrades, and having a road map of priorities is important to ensure that no station is left behind. Our volunteers give so much and deserve to have the best equipment, trucks and PPC to keep them safe, and I continue to advocate to whoever will listen about how we can better support our firefighters.

In June last year our Eden Hills brigade welcomed the new 34P urban pumper and before too long the Sturt group will receive their two new quick response vehicles. These vehicles are incredibly important, and I want to thank our newly elected member for Boothby, Louise Miller-Frost, for committing to these. We were lucky to check them out a few weeks ago, and I know that the brigades are very keen to have them delivered.

As a TAFE alumni, and the mother of another TAFE alumni, I am very pleased that as a government not only do we value our TAFEs and all that they deliver but we are investing in them to ensure that if you want to pursue a career in building, cooking, in all of the different industries, then there is a course for you and, in some cases, it is free.

Having a son in the construction industry, who will be completing his apprenticeship this year, it is important that we recognise that it is a tough role. It is also dominated by young men who, we know, are not very good at looking after themselves. I am very pleased that earlier this month the Premier announced that the South Australian government will provide $384,000 in funding to MATES in Construction South Australia to support the expansion of their mental health and suicide prevention program for South Australian construction workers.

This is such an important program, and the 'Blueprint for better mental health and suicide prevention'—that is its name—will be expanded across South Australia's construction and allied industries as well as businesses located in areas with a higher prevalence of suicide. This is really important and I am really pleased that we have been able to support this initiative.

We are delivering for the people of South Australia, and I continue to work hard for my own community and advocate for the things that we need, the improvements we need now and into the future. I look forward to the budget announcements as we continue to support the people of the state to live their best lives and to live in the best state, South Australia.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD (Reynell—Minister for Child Protection, Minister for Women and the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence) (16:45): I am really pleased to speak in support of this Supply Bill, a bill that will enable our government to build upon the investments made over the past three years across all parts of government, investments which will enable us to continue to respond to the needs of South Australians and to advance our state.

Every single day I am deeply honoured to be Minister for Child Protection, Minister for Women and the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence, and the member for Reynell. I often feel heartbroken as I see some of the really difficult and complex issues that children, young people and families can face. That heartbreak makes me even more determined to use every minute to make bold, lasting change that genuinely improves people's lives and the fabric of our community.

The task ahead to progress this most important and utterly urgent change for children and young people is huge, but what I know and feel deep in my heart and mind is that the only way we progress meaningful change is together across government, across sectors and with our community.

Our investments as a government have already made a difference, and this Supply Bill ensures we can continue to advance our ambitions for our state and with and for its people. Our government wants to help ensure equality of opportunity, fairness and inclusion for all, and we want our economy, environment and community to thrive. Our government is committed to drive reform that helps to create a state where all people can equally and actively participate in our economy and in every aspect of community life.

Part of that ambition is to support and empower children and families facing complex challenges, and we are doing so. We are working to drive transformative reform designed to improve outcomes for children and young people engaged with the child protection and family support system whilst also empowering birth and carer families and the workforce.

All of these changes and this work towards improved outcomes are as a direct result of the additional and targeted funds our government has invested in the system. Through the Mid-Year Budget Review an additional $129.1 million was provided to the Department for Child Protection, bringing the total new investment to $580 million since coming to government.

I am really proud of the investments our government is making in this space. They are utterly focused on the children, young people and families who most need us having the best possible system and supports in place. Our investment and our significant reform is indicative of our steadfast commitment to building the capacity of the system and ensuring resources are available to implement far-reaching change in ways that help improve children's lives.

Each time we talk about our investment the opposition have contradicted themselves, on the one hand calling for increases to the child protection and family support budget and then categorising our investment as a budget blowout. I note that in his words on the Supply Bill in this place the member for Heysen made utterly baseless accusations, utterly baseless. In those words in this place the member for Heysen made no policy announcements; gave no clarity about what they would cut from the budget, given they do not like money being spent in this space; and refused to acknowledge the really important steps forward we are taking, steps forward that are backed up by evidence, steps forward that the community and sector are glad are being made.

While those opposite try to work out their messaging, what they stand for and what they intend to cut, we are getting on with the job of listening to children and young people, birth and carer families, workers and the sector, driving change and putting meaningful measures and investments in place that are achieving outcomes.

Through our government efforts, we have seen a reduction in the rate of children coming into care from 7.9 per cent in 2018-19 to 2.5 per cent in 2022-23 and 0.64 per cent in 2023-24. The early growth figures for this financial year as at 31 March are now minus 0.3 per cent. As I have spoken about in this place many times, this reduction speaks to the robust policies, practices and investment of our government, which is utterly dedicated to improving the child protection and family support system to help ensure children and young people can grow up feeling and being safe and supported in a loving environment.

We know we have more to do, but we are so proud of the progress that we are beginning to make. Some of the specific programs we have made investments in that are beginning to make a difference include:

family group conferencing, which is proven to be a very effective program in supporting children and families to safely stay together. Additional funding of $13.4 million was provided as part of the 2023-24 budget process to expand the program, and 2023-24 saw success rates of 91.5 per cent and 90.4 per cent achieved for the hundreds of children who remained in the care of their families after the family group conference;

$3 million in new funding to extend the Next Steps program for another three years as part of the 2024-25 MYBR to support young people with really complex needs to age 21 who are transitioning from residential care;

continued support of the Child and Young Person's Visitor program originally funded as part of the 2022-23 budget for $1.87 million over four years, providing an additional safeguard for children and young people in residential care. On top of this, an additional $4.8 million has been invested into the Office of the Guardian for Children and Young People;

ongoing support of $723,000 per annum for the independent Aboriginal community controlled peak body Wakwakurna Kanyini for Aboriginal children and young people, a body the Aboriginal community has called for for decades that we proudly have finally funded;

$997,000 per annum indexed from 2024-25 to fund an additional seven full-time equivalent staff to undertake additional kinship care assessments. This is helping to ensure kinship placements are explored for children and young people to support them in keeping strong connections with family, community and culture; and

to support carers, we introduced a new flexible respite payment to carers of $200 each quarter from the start of last year. We also increased carer payments by 2.5 per cent in the 2024-25 budget, which is in addition to the increase provided in the previous budget of 4.8 per cent, as well as an additional $50 per payment to eligible carers for children under 16 years.

We are proudly seeing an increase in our carer numbers, with both the count of primary foster carers and the count of kinship carers increasing year on year. Increases to carer numbers is partly attributed to a recruitment campaign, Foster the Feeling, which saw a 200 per cent increase in inquiries from prospective carers.

There is a clear, relentless focus from our government to begin to increase our numbers of carers and ensure they are better supported. We are also focused on reunifications where possible and safe, seeing over 230 completed in a 12-month period. This is in comparison to the opposition who in their time in government increased the number of children in care by over 1,000.

The MYBR provided ongoing funding of $2.1 million over four years to expand the therapeutic carer support team by a further 4.4 FTE to provide additional support to carers. This team provides evidence-based therapeutic supports to children and young people under guardianship who reside in family-based care. Alongside this investment, we are making changes to policy and practice to continue to drive transformation across the system.

A critical focus of our generational reform is ensuring that children and young people are meaningfully involved in decisions about their care by privileging children's voices and consulting them on all that impacts their lives in a way appropriate to their age and understanding. This shift toward a more inclusive approach with children at its centre reflects the government's commitment to empowering children and young people to play an active role in decisions about their lives, fostering their agency and dignity.

To progress this further, we have various mechanisms to better do this in our bill before the other place. I have also recently instituted a youth advisory council made up of extraordinary young people in care who provide me with direct, excellent advice about changes to our system that could make a difference in their lives.

Our government is committed to improving the system's cultural responsiveness for Aboriginal children and families. Through collaboration with relevant peak bodies, the government is getting on with the work needed to fully implement in policy and practice the Aboriginal Child Placement Principle. We want this work to help ensure that active efforts are made to place Aboriginal children in culturally appropriate care where it is needed away from family or birth family.

Another key reform focuses on including carers in decision-making, including work towards ensuring carers have the opportunity to attend annual reviews of children in their care, with case plans to be reviewed during these sessions. This will help ensure carers are active participants in the care planning process and help to improve the stability and wellbeing of children in care. This work sits alongside the crucial work of our Carer Council, which is providing advice on a range of matters important to carers. Their advice is invaluable.

It is really clear that our government is focused and so determined to support children and young people to reach their full potential, to help ensure their voices are amplified and to help support and strengthen families. We are beginning to make progress in this difficult, complex area as families continue to confront sometimes generational, interconnected and challenging issues. We will not resile from the task ahead. We will stay the course.

Whilst we have made significant strides toward advancing gender equality and tackling the horrific scourge of domestic, family and sexual violence, there is still so much more to be done. I was proud to stand on the steps of parliament just this last weekend, surrounded by hundreds of people calling for the end to violence against women and children, amongst them families, friends and supporters of women—women who walked and worked and contributed amongst us, women who were loved, women who were brutally killed. I hold them in my heart each and every day and to all who grieve, to all who are experiencing violence and to survivors of violence, we see you and know that as a community we must do better.

To touch on just a few of the recent initiatives and investments we have driven in this space, we are proud to have provided $1.5 million for a central response unit to the Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence and $3.3 million to continue a range of domestic violence pilot programs, including holistic support to Aboriginal families, earlier and trauma-informed assistance for survivors, wellbeing and recovery services for survivors, and preventative education and behaviour change programs for perpetrators.

In response to increased demand, the 2025 Mid-Year Budget Review approved almost $1 million in additional funding per year for the Domestic Violence Crisis Line and the personal protection app. This increase in funding will assist the Domestic Violence Crisis Line's capacity to respond to calls and will enable support through the personal protection app for an additional 120 individuals.

We have funded and opened the northern and southern prevention and recovery hubs over the past couple of years, and we have passed a suite of legislative measures, including legislation to electronically monitor perpetrators on bail who violently breach DV-related intervention orders. Legislation has passed to provide paid domestic violence leave in the South Australian Fair Work Act and to include the experience of domestic violence as a ground for discrimination in the Equal Opportunity Act.

Legislation has passed to strengthen the laws related to strangulation in a domestic setting and we have introduced legislation to criminalise coercive control, alongside our highly successful See the Signs public awareness campaign on coercive control. This is, of course, in addition to our partnership with the commonwealth on the national plan, which includes investments such as $12.2 million to recruit 38.6 full-time equivalent new frontline community workers in the domestic, family and sexual violence sector; $3.4 million to trial new projects to support perpetrator responses; and the negotiation of a renewed five-year National Partnership Agreement on Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Responses that will commence on 1 July 2025. The agreement will comprise over $700 million in new matched investments from the commonwealth and all states and territories.

We have done much, but again there is more to do. We know that the Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence will absolutely give us the full evidence base to drive profound generational change that enables us to institute a strong, coordinated response to domestic, family and sexual violence and has the potential to transform the efforts in our community by addressing the root causes of this violence.

I look forward to the budget ahead and I also take a moment to celebrate the many advancements that have been made in our beautiful southern community in and around the electorate of Reynell. I am so proud that since our last budget, since our last debate on a supply bill in this place, the revitalisation of Knox Park for our community is now open, which also provides a home, finally, to the incredible people of the Southern Athletic Club.

I am absolutely thrilled, as are so many in our community who have campaigned for so long alongside the member for Kaurna and the federal member for Kingston, that the Witton Bluff Base Trail is now partly open, and the last part of it will be open in a few months. It is impossible to speak about the Witton Bluff Base Trail without mentioning former Councillor Bill Jamieson, an absolute legend of the South, who has campaigned for decades for this incredible trail that finally connects our beautiful Christies and Port Noarlunga beaches.

We have opened, through investment, the upgraded bowling club green at the Morphett Vale bowling club. As I mentioned, the Southern Domestic Violence Prevention and Recovery Hub is now open. There are vast improvements at The Wineflies and at the Emus sporting complexes, including new cricket nets for the Reynella Cricket Club. Of course, there is the incredible upgrade to the O'Sullivan Beach boat ramp which has been opened. It is very well frequented by local people in our community.

In closing, I mention a particular group of mates in the community who frequent the O'Sullivan Beach boat ramp every single day to go fishing and have continued to engage with me in really important conversations about how we can make this beautiful place even better.

Ms WORTLEY (Torrens) (17:05): I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Supply Bill 2025 which, when approved by the parliament, will supply the government with sufficient funds to carry on the business of government in the lead-up to the budget being passed. In doing so, I want to shine a light on some of the achievements and plans we have for South Australia, including those specifically for the electorate of Torrens.

As a parent, former teacher and a member of parliament, for me the education of our children and young people is a high priority, and I am so very pleased it is a priority of the Malinauskas government. We understand the transformative power of education, and we strongly believe that all children and young people should have a quality education, regardless of their age, postcode or the challenges of learning they are dealt. To that end, we are making considerable progress on delivering to our state on education.

I know I have said it in this place before, but it is my view that education is a window to the world and that through education comes knowledge and opportunity, that it is only right that all people should have the opportunity to access good quality education at all levels: as children, as youth and as adults—an education that will enable them to develop and to fully realise their potential throughout their lifetime. This is delivered through quality school leadership, teachers and support staff, along with the necessary infrastructure to support their learning.

I want to commend the Premier, the Minister for Education and the Hon. Emily Bourke for their foresight in addressing some of the issues in our education system that have been overlooked, sidestepped or swept under the carpet, in some cases for generations, while acknowledging also that while we have come a long way there is still more that can be done.

We are committed to doing all we can to ensure that our students at all levels get the best education foundation possible. Our commitment is not just for today or tomorrow, but for ongoing access to quality early childhood education, through to primary and secondary years, vocational training and university. We value our teachers, we value our educators and support staff, and we value their incredibly important role in assisting in delivering our next generation of South Australians.

The Malinauskas government has South Australia leading in making our schools more inclusive and accessible through the introduction of autism inclusion teachers in every public primary school, including R-12 schools. This important role is seeing autism inclusion teachers build their own knowledge and expertise to influence the practice of other staff at the school. It includes advice on setting up calm spaces, emotional regulation techniques and other learning expertise to support a best school learning environment for neurodiverse students.

In the lead-up to the introduction of these specialist roles, there was considerable consultation with the autistic community, those with lived experience, parents and carers, educators, school students, families, experts and community organisations on the autism inclusion teacher role, to ensure that it fits the need of the community. We know that there is a huge benefit for students, families, the community and for South Australia, more broadly, by improving the support we put around autistic students, and we can see that in many of our public venues today.

Further education initiatives actioned by our government include the numeracy guarantee. This focuses on upskilling teachers and providing resources for parents, an improvement reform that makes up part of the recently signed Gonski agreement. This numeracy guarantee includes:

upskilling for all primary school maths curriculum leaders to drive whole school maths improvement;

a new academy to support all early career teachers in teaching maths more effectively;

more professional learning for teachers in maths, starting at preschool and going across all year levels;

free online numeracy resources for all parents to use with their children;

an improved South Australian mathematics curriculum so students gain the mathematical knowledge and can find real joy in maths; and

the rollout of the numeracy check for all year 1s at public schools.

The additional funding is also tied to:

supporting students through anti-bullying and violence prevention initiatives—this is extremely important;

supporting a strong and sustainable workforce through attraction and retention initiatives, training and mentorship opportunities;

increasing attendance rates; and

supporting transitions from school to the workforce.

It does not end there. The government's commitment of $3.5 million a year over four years has been made to establish new special options, with specialist classes and disability units at schools to better meet student demand. This will go some way to ensuring students have access to suitable supports, resources and infrastructure to support their education.

That brings me now to my electorate of Torrens. This week I visited two of my schools to see the progress on the delivery of our election commitment to them. The first school, Hillcrest Primary, is receiving a much-needed school hall. The school proudly claims a diverse growing school community, with students arriving from across the world and families moving into the area so that their children can attend the school. It has an outstanding reputation, and is a school of choice.

Hillcrest Primary School currently has limited access to the North East Community House building next door for assemblies and school graduations and occasionally, when it is available, for indoor sports and drama lessons. However, the restricted access to the sessions means that the students miss out.

The building of a new school hall is a win-win situation for Hillcrest Primary School and for the North East Community House as it will free up available time for the North East Community House to include additional community programs. I know how excited the school community is about the opening in the not too distant future. I was speaking to parents after Monday night's governing council meeting about their ideas and plans of the school hall, which seem endless.

The state-of-the-art facility is designed to accommodate over 400 students, providing them with a dedicated space for physical education and a variety of sports activities. It features four toilets, including an accessible bathroom with a shower, ensuring accessibility and convenience for all students. Additionally, a storeroom will be available to house a wide range of sporting equipment, supporting diversity of physical education programs.

The new hall will include a kitchen, allowing for the preparation of refreshments during events and enhancing the overall functionality of the space. Beyond regular physical education lessons, this gym will host specialist programs for students in basketball, netball and volleyball. With these comprehensive facilities Hillcrest Primary School aims to provide an enriching environment that promotes physical fitness and a love for sports among students.

In addition to sports, the hall will be utilised for whole school events and will also enable the inviting of the wider school community to be part of these occasions, including for assemblies, end of year concerts, science showcase events, art exhibitions and award ceremonies. Exciting to members of the community is the fact that the school will be available for broader community use.

I was speaking with the director of North East Community House, Farah, only last week about how excited they are about having more available time for their community group programs, with the freeing-up of access time at their facilities. They are in the process of finalising plans that will benefit some of the most vulnerable in our community through the introduction of some new and exciting programs.

The second school I visited this week is Avenues College. I did a walk-through of the $4 million upgrade with school principal Hamish McDonald and the year 12 college captains, Devina and Muskan. Avenues College is the amalgamation of two schools—Windsor Gardens Secondary College (formerly known as Gilles Plains High School) and Windsor Gardens Vocational College—with Gilles Plains Primary School. They are all together now on the McKay Avenue site.

Avenues College is a birth-to-year 12 school that incorporates early years, preschool, primary school and secondary school in addition to being a centre for deaf education. First Nations students boarding at Wiltja in nearby Lightsview also participate in the education programs offered at Avenues College.

The upgrade to the secondary campus represents a significant investment in modernising the learning environment of Avenues College to meet the needs of 21st century education. The redevelopment includes the transformation of traditional classrooms into six contemporary learning communities that are grouped in pairs and connected by flexible breakout spaces that support collaboration, creativity and differentiated learning. These areas are designed to foster student agency and engagement through open, adaptable environments that reflect current best practice in secondary education. In addition to the learning communities, the upgrade includes:

a dedicated technology suite to support digital and design learning;

a purpose-built year 12 study and learning common room that provides senior-year students with a focused, flexible space to support independent learning and preparation for post-school pathways;

enhanced staff work areas to better support collaboration and professional practice; and

external upgrades to air conditioning systems, filtration and windows, ensuring comfort, efficiency and improved air quality across the facility.

It was wonderful to do the walk-through on Monday with the year 12 school captains, Devina and Muskan, who told me how excited they were to be the first year 12s in the school's history to have access to a dedicated year 12 area.

The third school that benefited from investment by the Malinauskas government was Wandana Primary School, which received a $500,000 upgrade to existing infrastructure. I recently visited the school and did a walk-through with the principal, Robyn, and some students. I cannot begin to tell you what a difference this upgrade has made, not only a difference to the presentation of the school but to the learning environment and the play opportunities for the students. The principal and the staff, along with the students, are thrilled with the improvements, which have resulted in the provision of much-improved socialisation opportunities.

While I am speaking about education in schools and with National Volunteer Week just around the corner, I want to make mention of all those in our school communities who give so freely of their time in volunteering in our schools: in classrooms, in libraries, on working bees, on school excursions, supporting sports teams and in fundraising committees—and the list goes on. This includes parents who serve on our state school governing councils at Hillcrest Primary School, Klemzig Primary School, Hampstead Primary School, Vale Park Primary School, Wandana Primary School and Avenues College.

There are also those who serve on the governing boards and committees of our Catholic and independent schools, including Kildare College, St Paul's College, St Pius X School, St Martin's Catholic Primary School, Pinnacle College and Heritage College.

Then of course there are the parents who volunteer on the boards and committees of our childcare centres and our kindies and preschools, including Gilles Plains children's centre, Klemzig Kindergarten, Hampstead Preschool, Vale Park Preschool and Holden Hill Kindergarten.

I want to also acknowledge and thank the many dedicated parents, grandparents and other members of the community who coach, umpire, manage, administrate and serve on the committees of all our local sporting teams.

I extend a huge thanks to all other organisations in Torrens that rely on the dedication of volunteers to deliver our community services, along with the work of our multicultural communities, in particular, members of our Indian, Nepalese and Chinese communities in Torrens who work to continue to be a significant voice for the more vulnerable in our shared community. I will speak further on our volunteers at another opportunity.

The need for swimming pools, for water-safety education, learn-to-swim programs, exercise and recreation is something I have spoken about and advocated for in this place on many occasions. It is fantastic to see the progress on the new Aquatic Centre, a commitment from the Malinauskas Labor government. The Aquatic Centre will serve our state for generations.

Locally, the opening of the Oaks Swim Centre, on the See Differently with RSB site in Gilles Plains, has been welcomed by our community. It is amazing what the $150,000 election commitment has delivered. It stands as an example of what people who care coming together can achieve. And to add to that, a successful grant application has seen the completion of family change facilities, which really improves the experience, particularly for members of our neurodiverse community.

Without doubt, Royal Life Saving SA's water safety and therapy programs will save lives. The drowning statistics are devastating, so too are the near drownings, the non fatal, with often lifelong consequences for the survivor and their family. The inclusive nature of the Oaks Swim Centre, operated by Royal Life Saving South Australia, is absolutely welcomed by our community.

Delivering on health initiatives is a priority for our government. This includes the delivery of 48 new beds at the Lyell McEwin Hospital and plans and progress to build an extra 32 more. I recently had the opportunity to visit, with the minister, the Modbury Hospital to see the progress of the construction of the upgrade, which will see delivery of 44 new mental health beds, a brand-new cancer centre and a five-storey multi-deck car park. Residents in the North-East are absolutely thrilled. Every time I knock on a door, or I am at a shopping centre, that is one of the issues that gets raised. The fact that our government has brought Modbury Hospital back into the 21st century, with the new developments, the mental health facilities, the cancer centre and the car parking facilities that are available.

We have heard from other members, particularly from the south, about the construction on the major redevelopment of Flinders Medical Centre mental health inpatient unit and we know, as we look across the state and we see the new beds being delivered in mental health, in urgent care, in all of these areas, that that will impact significantly on availability around the state and so that is something that really needs to be taken into consideration when we perhaps step outside of our own area, our own patch.

The Margaret Tobin Centre expansion in the south will increase mental health bed numbers from 38 to 48 and will include a brand-new 12-bed psychiatric intensive care unit, up from eight beds. Scheduled for completion by the end of the year, it is part of the $498 million redevelopment, jointly funded by the Malinauskas and Albanese Labor governments, that will see 160 extra beds delivered across Flinders Medical Centre and the Repat.

This construction milestone comes as the For Work. For Life recruitment campaign is ramped up, specifically targeting mental health professionals from interstate and from overseas and future vacancies across regional and metro SA. In addition to the recruitment campaign, recruitment strategies in place, or part of future planning, include an increase in training and specific strategies for sub-specialist areas, including child and adolescent psychiatry and also for rural areas.

Since being elected, our government has recruited more than 1,400 additional health workers above attrition, and opened extra mental health beds helping to create more capacity in the system as a whole, reducing bed block. While implementing these measures, and making long-lasting change will take time, the Malinauskas government is working towards establishing a better health system from which both current and future generations can benefit.

I would like to acknowledge the dedication here of the Minister for Health in all of the work that he does. I think that it is probably the most difficult portfolio. In saying that, I commend the bill to the house.

Mr BROWN (Florey) (17:25): It is a pleasure to rise to speak to the Supply Bill 2025. The opportunity to make a contribution on this important bill offers a chance to reflect on the commitments to the South Australian community that the Malinauskas government has fulfilled since being elected, as well as to contemplate what is on the horizon as we continue our work to deliver results for South Australians.

Achieving good outcomes for the deserving communities and the people of our state is the great privilege of being in government. Having the task of determining how public money is spent is both an extraordinary opportunity and a profound responsibility that must never be taken lightly. Whether it is state building expenditure into the billions, or local projects involving more modest sums, every single dollar of government spending brings with it a meaningful opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of South Australians.

This is the power and the privilege of government, one that I have never taken for granted and never will. In recognition of the important responsibility that this government bears to the South Australian people, and that I bear to my constituents, I would like to highlight a few of the commitments the Malinauskas government has delivered within the Florey electorate and across the northern suburbs of Adelaide.

Local institutions such as sporting clubs and community organisations play a vital role in keeping residents physically healthy and socially connected, and the quality of the physical and social infrastructure in our communities that underpins our shared experience of daily living matters a great deal. They are elements of human life that are highly influential to both collective and individual wellbeing in any society. It is well understood that appropriate investment in local infrastructure strengthens the fabric of our communities and has the potential to make a significant positive impact on the quality of life for residents. I am proud of what we have achieved so far during this term of government, and I am grateful for the opportunity I have now to share some of them with the house.

The Para Hills Bowling Club is a wonderful and inclusive social and recreational space for residents of all ages and all skill levels. The club openly encourages the local community to come and have a go at one of the varieties of sporting activities regularly on offer. Back in March 2022, I was very pleased to make a commitment to the Para Hills Bowling Club that the Malinauskas Labor government would support them with a grant of up to $300,000 for the installation of new artificial turf. This was one of the many community projects that I looked forward to helping to deliver with the support of our local community, and I was delighted when this commitment was fulfilled in August 2023.

Even before I was elected as the local member of parliament, the Para Hills Cricket Club welcomed me into their grassroots family. I have been fortunate to enjoy discussions with the club secretary and its head coach about the growth and future of the club, and I am very proud that a Malinauskas Labor government has supported this club with $80,000 of funding for new training nets that were delivered in August 2024, in collaboration with the City of Salisbury, the South Australian Cricket Association and the federal government. The new nets are getting very good use, and the club has expressed that this important upgrade will have a significant long-term impact on the quality of the experience for the community of people who gather to use and enjoy the club's facilities.

The Ingle Farm Sporting Club is another wonderful local institution in my community. The club provides facilities for various sporting activities within the immediate and adjacent communities, including but not limited to senior and junior football, senior and junior cricket, softball, golf and netball. It is also a popular social hub and many love to gather over shared passions, especially relating to sport.

Some time ago I caught up with the president of the Ingle Farm District Cricket Club, as well as other members of their executive team, to discuss how I could help to improve local sports participation and strengthen their connection with the local community. I was very pleased to inform them of the Malinauskas government's commitment to help fund new change rooms. This $650,000 investment is one that will make a great difference to the many clubs, groups and individuals who use the Ingle Farm Sporting Club, an investment that I am proud to say has been matched by the City of Salisbury. Construction is underway, and I have every confidence that the end result will bring welcome benefit for the club, its members and all who use the facilities.

Public safety is very important to me as a representative, and it is a keen area of focus for the Malinauskas government. We recognise the vital part it plays in supporting community wellbeing. It is important for South Australians and for residents within my community not only to be safe but to feel safe. It is my pleasure to work closely with local businesses, community groups and residents to discuss and implement means by which we can prevent crime and enhance public safety in our area.

In response to community concerns about antisocial behaviour and hoon driving, I was very pleased that in June 2023 we delivered on our commitment to provide funding to install CCTV at Henderson Square as well as further along Henderson Avenue in Pooraka. CCTV cameras in public places offer a number of important benefits. They deter antisocial and criminal behaviour by increasing the likelihood of being identified in court, and they can also provide evidence for investigations and allow for quicker emergency responses in the event that an incident has occurred.

The ability to move about the community easily and safely is also of crucial importance to residents' wellbeing. During the 2022 election campaign, the Premier and I committed to a $2 million footpath upgrade program for our community in Pooraka and Ingle Farm, to be undertaken in cooperation with the City of Salisbury. I am delighted this commitment has now been delivered. I seek leave to continue my remarks.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.

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