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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-06-30 Daily Xml
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Estimates Vote

Department for Infrastructure and Transport, $1,107,742,000

Administered Items for the Department for Infrastructure and Transport, $7,863,000


Minister:

Hon. K.A. Hildyard, Minister for Child Protection, Minister for Women and the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing.


Departmental Advisers:

Ms K. Taylor, Chief Executive, Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing.

Mr T. Nicholas, Director, Corporate Strategy and Investment, Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing.

Mr A. Trottman, Director, Infrastructure and Planning, Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing.


The CHAIR: Welcome to today's hearing for Estimates Committee B. I respectfully acknowledge the traditional owners of this land upon which the committee meets today and pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to the elders both past and present.

The estimates committees are a relatively informal procedure and, as such, there is no need to stand to ask or answer questions. I understand that the minister and the lead speaker for the opposition have agreed on an approximate time for the consideration of proposed payments, which will facilitate a change of departmental advisers. Can the minister and the lead speaker for the opposition confirm that the timetable for today's proceedings previously distributed is accurate?

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: Yes.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: Yes.

The CHAIR: Changes to committee membership will be notified as they occur. Members should ensure the Chair is provided with a completed request to be discharged form. If the minister undertakes to supply information at a later date, it must be submitted to the Clerk Assistant via the Answers to Questions mailbox no later than Friday 8 September 2023.

I propose to allow both the minister and the lead speaker for the opposition to make opening statements of up to 10 minutes each, should they wish. There will be a flexible approach to giving the call for asking questions. A member who is not on the committee may ask a question at the discretion of the Chair.

All questions are to be directed to the minister, not to the minister's advisers. The minister may refer questions to advisers for a response. Questions must be based on lines of expenditure in the budget papers and must be identifiable or referenced. Members unable to complete their questions during the proceedings may submit them as questions on notice for inclusion in the assembly Notice Paper.

I remind members that the rules of debate in the house apply in the committee. Consistent with the rules of the house, photography by members from the chamber floor is not permitted while the committee is sitting. Ministers and members may not table documents before the committee; however, documents can be supplied to the Chair for distribution.

The incorporation of material in Hansard is permitted on the same basis as applies in the house; that is, it is purely statistical and limited to one page in length. The committee's examinations will be broadcast in the same manner as sittings of the house, through the IPTV system within Parliament House and online via the parliament website.

I now proceed to open the following lines for examination. The portfolios today are Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing. The minister appearing is the Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing. I declare the proposed payments open for examination. I call on the minister to make an opening statement, if she so wishes, and also take the opportunity to introduce the advisers.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: Thank you very much, Mr Chair, and thank you to all of the members who are here for the committee this morning. Can I please start by first introducing the staff who are here with me today: Kylie Taylor, CEO, Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing; Adam Trottman, Director, Infrastructure and Planning, Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing; and Tim Nicholas, Director, Corporate Strategy and Investment.

I am really grateful for their presence and also for their enduring commitment to growing participation in sport, to supporting individuals and organisations in sport to build capacity and to thrive and to diversifying and developing sport leadership. Can I particularly thank and acknowledge Chief Executive Kylie Taylor, who this year celebrates 30 years of dedication to her various roles in the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing, a remarkable effort and achievement.

For many South Australians, sport and active recreation is an integral part of their lives. Sport is powerful for every aspect of our health, wellbeing and connection to community. Across parks, beaches, gyms, pools, sports facilities, in every corner of the state, in suburbs and in regional and remote areas more than a million South Australians regularly participate in or volunteer to support both organised and non-organised physical activities.

I have witnessed firsthand that transformative power of sport over many years. One shining example of the power of sport that I have seen in the past 16 months since becoming minister is the Welcome to SA Shores program conducted by Surf Life Saving South Australia in partnership with the Association of Ukrainians South Australia, Help Ukrainians Australia and AUSTSWIM. With $10,000 from the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing and $10,000 from the Department of Human Services, the program represented the best of sport's power to include people and to strengthen friendship and connection.

Through the program, Surf Life Saving engaged Ukrainian refugees in pool and ocean survival and swimming programs for children and their families, safety and lifesaving awareness workshops and the training and induction of two Ukrainian residents as AUSTSWIM teachers.

I am so pleased that since coming to government we have re-established the Women in Sport Taskforce. The task force has already developed an ambitious work plan to address the issues that prevent women and girls from fully participating in their sporting passions. This is so important, because seeing women and girls celebrated for being strong, skilful, powerful and talented is really powerful. It can absolutely change perceptions about girls and women and the roles that they can play in every aspect of life and leadership.

We need to empower girls and women of every age to strive to achieve their dreams in environments that are safe, supportive and respectful. To this end, we have already acted on an issue raised by the task force: enabling clubs to use active club program funds to raise awareness about menstrual health and purchase period products or inclusive uniforms.

Work is progressing on the development of a new South Australian Sports Institute (SASI) that will become the heart of high-performance sport in South Australia. As new technology evolves, the new building will be agile enough to move with the times, leading to even better performances by South Australian athletes on the national and, indeed, international stage.

The SASI redevelopment has attracted meaningful engagement and significant investment from tertiary education bodies, igniting interest in ongoing partnerships with SASI. This will put South Australia well and truly on the map as a destination for research and education in high-performance sport in South Australia. These developments are in addition to recent major improvements at the state centre of basketball, the Women's Memorial Playing Fields, Coopers Stadium and the new State Centre of Football at Gepps Cross.

The South Australian Aquatic and Leisure Centre will receive a well-deserved $23.5 million upgrade and refresh from funds in this budget. The centre was opened in 2011 and was originally modelled on 500,000 visitations per year. Twelve years later, the state centre for swimming—host of the last two Olympic trials events—is welcoming more than 1.1 million visitors a year and will benefit greatly from this investment.

The FIFA Women's World Cup is less than a month away, and Adelaide is set to play a major part of this huge tournament. Coopers Stadium has rightly been upgraded and is ready to host one of the greatest sporting events in the world. On Tuesday 8 August, to help ensure the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 leaves a lasting legacy, the state government will stage the Power of Her, a women's leadership symposium of global significance.

We are continuing to support the racing industry. The industry has called and called and called over many years for an increase in the return of the betting operations tax. We support racing, we have listened to the calls from the racing industry that the former Liberal government refused to hear, and we have acted. Through this budget, we have extended and increased support for the three racing codes by doubling the racing industry's share of the betting operations tax from 10 per cent to 20 per cent, to help ensure industry sustainability. Thank you, Mr Chair. I look forward to questions.

The CHAIR: Member for Hartley, do you have an opening statement?

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: At 9.42am I might move on to the omnibus questions, if I can?

The CHAIR: Yes.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: The omnibus questions are:

1. For each department and agency reporting to the minister, how many executive appointments have been made since 1 July 2022 and what is the annual salary and total employment cost for each position?

2. For each department and agency reporting to the minister, how many executive positions have been abolished since 1 July 2022 and what was the annual salary and total employment cost for each position?

3. For each department and agency reporting to the minister, what has been the total cost of executive position terminations since 1 July 2022?

4. For each department and agency reporting to the minister, will the minister provide a breakdown of expenditure on consultants and contractors with a total estimated cost above $10,000 engaged since 1 July 2022, listing the name of the consultant, contractor or service supplier, the method of appointment, the reason for the engagement and the estimated total cost of the work?

5. For each department and agency reporting to the minister, will the minister provide an estimate of the total cost to be incurred in 2023-24 for consultants and contractors and, for each case in which a consultant or contractor has already been engaged at a total estimated cost above $10,000, the name of the consultant or contractor, the method of appointment, the reason for the engagement and the total estimated cost?

6. For each department and agency reporting to the minister, will the minister advise whether it met the 1.7 per cent efficiency dividend for 2022-23 to which the government committed and, if so, how was the saving achieved?

7. For each department or agency reporting to the minister, how many surplus employees are there in June 2023, and for each surplus employee what is the title or classification of the position and the total annual employment cost?

8. For each department and agency reporting to the minister, what is the number of executive staff to be cut to meet the government's commitment to reduce spending on the employment of executive staff and, for each position to be cut, its classification, total remuneration cost and the date by which the position will be cut?

9. For each department and agency reporting to the minister:

What savings targets have been set for 2023-24 and each year of the forward estimates; and

What is the estimated FTE impact of these measures?

10. For each department and agency reporting to the minister, will the minister advise what share it is receiving of the $1.5 billion the government proposes to use over four years of uncommitted capital reserves held in the budget at the time it took office and the purpose for which this funding is being used in each case?

11. For each department and agency reporting to the minister:

What was the actual FTE count at June 2023 and what is the projected actual FTE count for the end of each year of the forward estimates;

What is the budgeted total employment cost for each year of the forward estimates; and

How many targeted voluntary separation packages are estimated to be required to meet budget targets over the forward estimates and what is their estimated cost?

12. For each department and agency reporting to the minister, how much is budgeted to be spent on goods and services for 2023-24 and for each year of the forward estimates?

13. For each department and agency reporting to the minister, how many FTEs are budgeted to provide communication and promotion activities in 2023-24 and each year of the forward estimates and what is their estimated employment cost?

14. For each department and agency reporting to the minister, what is the total budgeted cost of government-paid advertising, including campaigns, across all mediums in 2023-24?

15. For each department and agency reporting to the minister, please provide for each individual investing expenditure project administered, the name, total estimated expenditure, actual expenditure incurred to June 2023 and budgeted expenditure for 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26?

16. For each grant program or fund the minister is responsible for, please provide the following information for the 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26 financial years:

Name of the program or fund;

The purpose of the program or fund;

Budgeted payments into the program or fund;

Budgeted expenditure from the program or fund; and

Details, including the value and beneficiary, or any commitments already made to be funded from the program or fund.

17. For each department and agency reporting to the minister:

Is the agency confident that you will meet your expenditure targets in 2023-24;

Have any budget decisions been made between the delivery of the budget on 15 June 2023 and today that might impact on the numbers presented in the budget papers which we are examining today; and

Are you expecting any reallocations across your agency's budget lines during 2023-24, if so, what would be the nature of this reallocation?

18. For each department and agency reporting to the minister:

What South Australian businesses will be used in procurement for your agency in 2023-24;

What percentage of total procurement spend for your agency does this represent; and

How does this compare to last year?

19. What protocols and monitoring systems has the department implemented to ensure that the productivity, efficiency and quality of service delivery is maintained while employees work from home?

20. What percentage of your department's budget has been allocated for the management of remote work infrastructure, including digital tools, cybersecurity and support services, and how does this compare with previous years?

21. How many procurements have been undertaken by the department this FY, how many have been awarded to interstate businesses, and how many of those were signed off by the chief executive?

22. How many contractor invoices were paid by the department directly this FY? How many and what percentage were paid within 15 days, and how many and what percentage were paid outside of 15 days?

23. How many and what percentage of staff who undertake procurement activities have undertaken training on participation policies and local industry participants this FY?

Good morning, minister.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: Good morning.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: Good morning, Ky. Congratulations on 30 years. Good morning to everyone else. In relation to Budget Paper 4, Volume 3, page 137, there is a reference to including South Australians in community life through sport and recreation activities. Obviously, we do know that sporting clubs are not immune from power price issues out there. I am wondering, minister, what is the government doing to help clubs or rebate clubs to alleviate escalating power prices in relation to sporting clubs?

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: In relation to the first part of the member's question about including people in community life through sport, I have referenced a few ways that we are doing that in my opening statement. I would also reiterate the work that we are doing across child protection and recreation and sport, including in regional areas, to make sure that some of the most vulnerable community members are engaged in sport. I am certainly happy to extrapolate on that during this session.

What I can also say in relation to the more specific question about measures that sustain clubs in communities across our state is that both the Community Recreation and Sport Facilities Program and, indeed, the Active Club Program, but particularly the former one, are able to be used to access funds for programs that include energy-efficiency measures. It may be things like solar systems that is one of the grants that was awarded to the Gawler golf club. At the Millswood Bowls Club, grant funds were accessed for LED lights, but that is certainly a—

Ms STINSON: Very good.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: Yes, indeed, the member for Badcoe is very happy with that particular grant that was awarded. That is a really important fund, and community clubs and sporting clubs are increasingly turning their minds to how they can make sure that their clubrooms and their facilities are more energy efficient. I am sure that we will continue to receive applications for those particular measures through that particular grant program.

Also, in a more general sense, we increased funding to Sport SA and to state sporting organisations since coming to government. That of course helps those organisations to help clubs who are affiliated with them to turn their minds to those measures to build capacity right across their sport, and indeed right across the sector, to work through how they can improve energy efficiency.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: Same budget line, same topic. Obviously, the government is allowing certain people to have power rebates, but has there been any consideration about delivering such rebates for sporting clubs?

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: What I would say to the member is—as I just spoke about—I think those incredible clubs that are at the heart of communities across our state are increasingly turning their minds to how they can be more energy efficient, and we are encouraging clubs to apply for the funds that can help them to be so.

As the member knows, community clubs are at the heart of so many communities across our state and they play a leading role in bringing people together. We want them to be sustained in doing so, hence that is why, as well as opening up this particular grant program to make sure they can access funds for those measures, we have provided additional funds across the sector to build their capacity in a number of ways to contemplate those issues that arise for their communities and for their organisations and clubs as well.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: Agency Statements, Budget Paper 4, Volume 3, page 117, Athletics Stadium renewal and upgrade. Obviously, we all know about that one. I note that project has been pushed out by six months. Is the minister able to explain the reason for that delay?

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: First of all just generally on the Athletics Stadium, I think you have had a tour there of the new—

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: I have.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: Yes, excellent. So I am sure that you absolutely agree how incredible it is going to be when the new $88 million SASI development is complete. As I spoke about in my opening statement, I think that will really put South Australia on the map in terms of our state being a destination for high performance sport, research, education and collaboration, so I am really looking forward to that completion.

What I can also say in relation to the Athletics Stadium itself is that we have had multiple discussions with all of the users at that Mile End sports precinct to make sure that their needs, their desires, what they would like to be able to continue to do there, are catered for. What I can say is that Little Athletics, who cater for 8,200 members across the state and who hold incredible championships and events there, and I think the member has attended one of those, are—

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: Mr Chair, with all respect, the question is about the delay, not about the benefits of the project, and given that it is 9.54 and we have had two questions, I would ask you to redirect the minister.

The CHAIR: I am sure the minister is getting to it.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: I think I am a little bit confused, because the Athletics Stadium is complete. I thought you were just asking more generally about—

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: The renewal.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: Pardon?

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: I am talking about the upgrades and renewal and projects.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: The replacement of the track, etc.? It is done. I thought you were suggesting that there was a delay but the project is actually completed. What I can say—and I think you might have asked me a question about this at the time, or perhaps the leader asked me a question about this at the time, or I received a letter or something and as per my answer then—is we worked with the user groups to make sure that the dates in terms of completion would align with the athletics season being able to proceed.

As you know, the athletics season is generally from about October or November to April, so we made sure that completion did not interfere with either the immediate last season that we just had, or the one before. That was really important because of course we want those organisations—Little Athletics, Athletics SA, the Masters who use the stadium or the precinct as well—to be able to continue with their competitions. That is why the time frames were managed in the way that they were. It was the right thing to make sure that all the competitions, the meets, the extraordinary events that they hold there could proceed as they should.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: In regard to the same budget line and referring to the same project, the SA Athletics Stadium, given that there was an $820,000 upgrade to the back training area at the SA Athletics Stadium that was completed by Athletics SA with a former Liberal grant in about 2021, what is the benefit to the taxpayer and also athletics in ripping out and relocating pole vault, discus, hammer throw, shot-put and javelin just a couple of years later at an estimated 2020-21 cost in excess of $250,000?

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: I am really pleased that you have asked a question about the Athletics Stadium or the precinct. I was really hoping that you would, because there is a lot of information to share about the significant activity that is happening there. As I spoke about, and as you know about and I think you are very supportive of, the $88 million SASI development is commencing in that precinct. As that development proceeds, there has been significant discussion with the user groups in that precinct, so with coaches from each of the various groups, with Little Athletics, with Athletics SA, with Masters and also with Beach Volleyball, which will also be co-located in that area that I think you have just spoken about in terms of those particular facilities.

What I can say is that Little Athletics with their 8,200 members are really pleased with the opportunities that come through this development. I would just say—I do not want to call it as an aside, but just for further information for the member—I am so pleased that Little Athletics for 2024 and 2025 have secured the national Little Athletics Championships, which will be able to be held at that redeveloped facility at the precinct. We have also had a number of discussions with Athletics SA about some of those issues that you raised. I think you said pole vault, hammer throw, shot-put, from memory.

I thought I would take you through some of the consultation and discussions that have happened around those particular issues that you have raised in relation to those field events and space for those field events. Very broadly, the Office for Recreation and Sport as well as the groups I have named that have been consulted—Volleyball Australia, Volleyball SA, the coaches, the Masters, Athletics SA, Little Athletics—have had meetings about what the precinct will look like, and those matters that you have raised have been numerous.

There have been around 12 in-person meetings and workshops and also other correspondence via email and telephone to capture all those suggestions about design in relation to those particular field events that you have mentioned. To take you through that and give you a bit of a sense about where particular issues are up to in relation to those field events, there was a meeting on 11 October, which was a general update on site-wide projects. On 24 October last year, there was another meeting in person, with the presentation of the master plan option version 1 and then a circulation of documents about that master plan for review and comment.

On 9 December last year, there was another site meeting in person, which included Athletics Australia in that particular meeting. That was a walk-through of the preferred master plan option, the version 1, and a clear opportunity for feedback. On 12 December last year, there was also a site meeting with myself as the minister and the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing for me to walk through the preferred master plan option, the version 1, and have an opportunity for feedback. After those four meetings, there was some feedback provided.

Some of the key issues that were raised were issues about how the circulation around the discus, hammer, shot-put and pole vault areas would work, how the pole vault warm-up area would function, the spectator viewing generally and open space provision generally. That is just a summary of some of the key points that were raised through that first part of consultation. Taking on board that feedback, on 24 January, a further stakeholder workshop was held in person at the Mile End precinct. The presentation of the second version of the master plan option was made, and then there was another circulation of documents to get feedback following—

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: Point of order, Mr Chair: I appreciate being informed of the journey, but the question was very clearly about the benefit.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: Yes, about pole vault, discus, shot-put. I am about to get to the changes that were made. On 24 January, there was that meeting. On 25 January, there was another meeting, and—going straight to your point about those particular field events—revisions were made to that first version to include feedback. An additional pole vault run-up was agreed to, nominated spectator zones were agreed to, amendments to the beach volleyball services to better suit athletics circulation around that part of the facility were made and additional safety netting to protect athletes was agreed to. Also, in relation to shot-put, which you asked about, that was flagged to be placed on a future version of the master plan.

On 11 May and 25 May, there were extensive meetings with the working group, the architect, Rec and Sport, Athletics SA, Little Athletics SA, Volleyball Australia, the coaches' representatives and the athletes' representatives, and that was about refreshing the current design and was also an opportunity to provide further advice on those matters that had been raised that the shadow minister also speaks to.

Also, there was an opportunity to think together as a working group about what a day in the life of an athlete, a coach or a parent at an event might look like so that further adjustments could possibly be made. There was a review of the concept design report. There was further opportunity to provide comment on the design principles that the project would adopt, and those design principles focused on safe movement, design to standards, being sustainable and having a strong identity.

There were further revisions to incorporate the feedback on version 2. At that point, three separate options were being explored. There was a current design with slight changes, an altered design to suit a new discus hammer location and an altered design to move pole vault. Again, that feedback was provided back to the working group and to the technical group for review. There have now been meetings since then on 29 May, 8 June and as recently as 13 June.

On 8 and 13 June, there was the presentation of the master plan option version 3. There were further revisions on version 3 and they have included an amendment to sector lines to represent the throwing danger zone, so any of the throwing sports, to take account of safety options around them. I think your question was mainly around those. On 29 June, so just yesterday, there was another meeting of the working group, and they are now reviewing those design options also.

What is really important to note is that the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing has engaged in a really meaningful, deeply collaborative and consultative process, which has resulted in three iterations, some with multiple options, of the Mile End sports precinct, the northern area you spoke about, where those particular field events will take place. It is fair to say that each of those meetings, each of those three iterations of the master plan, have provided a nuanced solutions-based approach that takes account very carefully of the feedback, that makes adjustments and that also rightly caters for high-performance beach volleyball training.

We want this to be a precinct that is inclusive, that takes account of the wishes and the needs of each of the users there. I believe that, in relation to the issues you have raised about particular events, etc., training, warm-up areas, we have managed to oversee a process that is going to result in a facility for a group of users who will sustain them into the future and that will sit alongside the incredible SASI development.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: That is the one the former government funded. Budget Paper 4, Volume 3, page 137, highlights:

Lead cross-government collaboration with sport, women's and education sectors to progress equality and participation as a legacy of the 2023 Women's World Cup.

My issue is about equality. Specifically, can the minister advise how many clubs are set to lose their funding under the new board gender requirements that come in on 1 July 2023, and can a list of those clubs be provided, please?

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: First, I would say to the honourable member, just so that we are clear that we are talking about the same thing, the policy to have at least 40 per cent women on boards currently applies to state sporting organisations. I would hope that in future we move to a world, a sporting landscape, where every club has diversity and at least 40 per cent women on their board. At the moment, this policy is about state sporting organisations.

I will be very clear that into the future I absolutely want all of us to be working together to ensure that every sporting board in clubs reflects and represents the community in which it operates. I am certainly being very clear that we will do that. Right now, just for the shadow minister's information, it applies to state sporting organisations.

What I would like to say about this particular policy is that it was instituted in 2017, and I was heavily involved in progressing that policy. From the moment that policy was introduced, we were very clear with sport that we would work with them to ensure that they had the understanding, the resources and the connections to various organisations, to make sure that they could achieve that particular target. I just wanted to reflect—

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: But how many are set to lose their funding?

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: I think we have established that it is not about clubs currently.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: How many state sporting organisations have been advised that they will lose their funding?

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: What I would say is, if I can continue, I would advise the shadow minister that—I think you probably sat in estimates with me when I was the opposition spokesperson for sport, recreation and racing, and you may have sat in here with some entertaining perhaps (I am not sure what the word is) exchanges between Mr Wingard, the former sports minister in the Liberal government. I think it would be fair to say, without any grudges or anything, that we had some interesting exchanges and I absolutely did not agree with a number of initiatives that he progressed or things that your government cut, etc., with particular outrage about the—

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: That might be so, but this has nothing to do with the question, sir, with respect.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: —cuts to the female facilities program. What I would say—

The CHAIR: A point of order?

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: The point of order is that it was a very specific question about—

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: What I would say is that—

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: —how many organisations are set to lose their funding.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: —what I was really pleased—

The CHAIR: If we could have—

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: Not my predecessor; my predecessor is not here anymore.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: It is a very important point that I am making, because we instituted the policy to have at least 40 per cent women on boards in 2017. The former Liberal government—

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: But that is irrelevant.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: No, it is very relevant.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: Point of order: that is completely irrelevant to the question.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: What I am doing is speaking about the time frame. The former government also supported that policy. I was waiting with bated breath in case, as they had done in relation to other programs that support—

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: This is completely irrelevant, Mr Chair.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: —the involvement of women in sport. I was waiting and worried that they would cut that—

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: How many organisations are going to lose their funding—

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: —but they did not, Mr Chair.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: —because of the new board gender requirements—you want to talk about gender requirements, just answer the question.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: They did not cut it. That means, thankfully, he did not cut it. He surprised me. Well done. We know that diversity in decision-making makes for better decision-making. Since 2017, the policy—

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: How many people or organisations have been threatened to lose their funding?

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: —for at least 40 per cent women—

The CHAIR: A point of order was raised earlier, so if the minister can just—

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: Yes, so what I am saying is that it is now—

The CHAIR: —keep quiet for a second, while I listen to the point of order again.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: Sorry.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: The point of order is that the minister is deviating from a relevant matter. The question is very clear: how many organisations are set to lose their funding under the new board gender requirements? It is not about Corey Wingard, a former government—

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: They are not new.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: —or a policy that has been in since 2017.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: They are not new, that is the point. Mr Chair, they are not new requirements—that is the point. The requirements have been there for six years continuously.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: So under board gender requirements, if you want to interpret it that way.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: That is the point. Can I please answer the question? Can I answer the question, Mr Chair?

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: Please.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: For six years those requirements have been there and at every point during those six years this state's sporting organisations, to whom this policy applies—both under the former Labor government, under the former Liberal government, and now under our government—have consistently been offered support, assistance, connection to particular women and particular organisations that have lists of women who are board-ready and wanting to serve on boards.

For six years—this is not a new policy and that is why the time frame is important—it is a policy that was supported, and I understand that it is still supported. I have not seen any derogation from that position from the Liberal Party. Although, I must say, I do question a number of things about their absolute utter failure to ensure equal representation of women in their own ranks. I am very concerned about whether or not, particularly given this question—

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: This is irrelevant, sir. Point of order.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: It is about women's representation, that is what the question is about.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: Sir, can I have another question?

The CHAIR: It is becoming a very generalised debate, so if we can keep to—

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: What I will say, is that for six years, state sporting organisations have had—

The CHAIR: —the specifics when it comes to budget lines.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: I have the budget line.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: —the support they need to reach that target. I will give you a really great example of a conversation I had with Rob Kerin, Chair of the SANFL, recently. I remember conversations in 2017 when we instituted the policy. I remember all sorts of conversations about how their constitution would work and how they would progress to achieve that target. Recently, during Gather Round—the highly successful brilliant Gather Round here in South Australia—I had a conversation with Rob Kerin and what he said to me was, 'We are so pleased that finally the SANFL has achieved that target.' What he said to me was that six years ago there was probably a discussion about why, etc., and those sorts of issues.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: Point of order.

The CHAIR: What is your point of order?

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: I am talking about a state sporting organisation and the at least 40 per cent of women—

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: My point of order—

The CHAIR: When a point of order is raised—

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: How many organisations are set to lose their funding under board gender requirements?

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: Irrelevance is the point of order. The minister has raised—

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: It is completely relevant. Gee, look at all these women.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: —matters that are deviating from this question. So very clearly—

The CHAIR: The minister was providing context.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: —how many organisations are set to lose their funding under the board gender requirements? You also mentioned support. How many organisations have been offered support where they are not meeting those requirements?

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: That is a great part of the question. All the state sporting organisations, every one of the state sporting organisations—

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: They all receive support?

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: —have been offered support and I just want to finish the point—

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: We have seen correspondence from the department saying 'you are going to lose your funding unless you do these things'.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: I just want—

The CHAIR: You need to give the minister an opportunity to answer.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: Over the six-year period—

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: They just want to talk about diversity, sir.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: Read the room.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: Diversity right here; you are looking at it.

The CHAIR: Can we all put a cap on it, please.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: This is excellent. Over the six years, all of those—

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: You just want to talk about diversity.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: I am answering your question. Just listen and you might learn—

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: Badly.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: —something about the decisions that you make because this is the point: I believe—Labor believes—that there are roughly equal numbers of men and women of merit, so whenever you have a structure that, in an ongoing way, does not reflect those equal numbers of men and women of merit, there are two choices you can make. You can make the choice that these people over here have clearly made in their party and that is not to do anything, not to actually make a clear, targeted decision and to institute a set of policies that in a targeted way—

Members interjecting:

The CHAIR: Can we stop the exchanges, please.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: —achieve gender equality. You can either make a choice not to do that or you can make a choice to deliberately institute policies, programs and support to achieve that representation. That is what we choose to do. That is what the former Liberal government chose to do, although now I am very worried—very, very worried—about whether that is still their policy, but that is what you do if you want to make change. Unapologetically, that is what we will continue to do—

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: I think we will move on.

The CHAIR: Yes, we will move on, I think.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: In 10 seconds, I just want to say that it was an excellent conversation with the SANFL about how proud and how pleased they are—

The CHAIR: Minister—

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: —that they have proactively done that work to achieve equal representation. Well done to every single one of them and congratulations to their very first woman deputy chair of SANFL.

The CHAIR: Do you have another question?

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: Yes, many. We could do this all day, if I had it my way.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: We could.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: Budget Paper 4, Volume 3, page 137, progressed improvements to community sporting facilities. I have a question about Park 27B. What funds have been provided to Hellas soccer club as part of Labor's sports club election commitments for clubroom developments at Park 27B? On the same item, did officers from ORSR advise Adelaide City Council that it was unable to provide money directly to Hellas soccer club, as the club is, 'Not eligible to receive a grant, as they may have an unacquitted funding agreement with the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing', and that in order to fulfil the Labor election commitment to Hellas the grant has to be conducted through Adelaide City Council?

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: Sorry, I was just clarifying which particular club and space you were referring to. What I can say to the member is that, rightly, the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing is working closely with West Adelaide juniors and the council to progress that facility in a way that is suitable and that works for all users of that area.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: Budget Paper 4, Volume 3, page 137, highlights: how much of the 2022-23 budget went or is going into female facilities for local clubrooms, what specific projects are being funded and are we able to obtain a list of those, please?

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: So 2022-23?

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: Yes.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: I am just checking. It is either $13.1 million or $13.2 million that was specifically for change rooms. I am just looking at whether there are any in the members' area. I might just speak about this one for a little bit, given the member for Torrens is here.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: Rather than do that, can we just have a list?

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: One of the ones that is included is the Gaza club. Finally, they will have access to the funds to build their dedicated female facilities, after much advocacy—sustained advocacy—from the member for Torrens. Can I say, having visited those change rooms at a time just after the former Liberal government had cruelly cut the $24 million dedicated Female Facilities Program, we spoke with members, particularly members of the women's team but other great supporters of the women's team as well, who were devastated, absolutely devastated, by the senseless cut that again speaks to and brings up questions about the commitment to equality and inclusion in sport of those opposite.

As an example, in that $13.2 million in 2022-23, amongst the list is the Gaza football club. I am sure if there was an opportunity to do so, the member for Torrens would also be very happy to speak about it. I will reflect on why that investment is important, just as our $24 million dedicated Female Facilities Program that was cut was so important.

If you are serious about backing girls and women in sport, you work to ensure that they have the facilities that enable them to equally and actively participate in the sport that they love. When you do not have those facilities, when you cut programs like the cut to the $24 million dedicated Female Facilities Program, you send a message about how equally welcome and included girls and women are in that club.

Can I say that I am really proud that we have sent a very clear message to the women and the girls at Gaza, and a range of other clubs where dedicated female facilities and other supports for women are being instituted. You send a very clear message to those women that they are welcome, that they are included, and I am very proud of those commitments—really proud of those commitments—that are being delivered. To come back to the answer to the question, in the 2022-23 budget, $13.2 million—

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: Another question, sir?

The CHAIR: Member for Hartley, you might want to request that the list is provided at another stage.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: I think I have requested a list, but I will request—

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: Sorry, I just misunderstood what you said.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: It is not the first time.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: So 2021-22 was the $13.2 million. Sorry, I misheard what you actually said.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: I accept your apology. If I can move on to another question.

The CHAIR: We will move on to another question.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: I am just conscious of time, that is all.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: I just want to check that the shadow minister did hear what I just said, because that is an important clarification.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: Yes, I did. Thank you, minister.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: I actually misheard what you said. There must have been people talking all at once.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: Budget Paper 4, Volume 3, page 138, explanation of significant movements. This is in relation to the racing industry. Obviously, we would all support an increase in revenue awarded to the racing industry, but are you able to please explain what proportion of the $12.2 million increase in the Racing Industry Fund will be sourced from an increased share of the betting operation tax in 2023-24?

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: I will just make a very brief comment about the issues that you raise. I am really glad to hear the shadow minister supports the increase that we have made in the return to the racing industry. As the shadow minister knows, there are somewhere between 3,500 to 4,000 people who are employed through the racing industry. The racing industry generates around $400 million of economic activity each year, and also there are clubs in regional communities right across our state who bring communities together and also make a really important injection into regional economies.

What I can say is that, as you know and as you have articulated, there is a doubling of the return. The Budget Measures Statement figure of $27.8 million over four years relates to that increase from 10 to 20 per cent through the betting operation tax increase. The total budget over the four-year period will be closer to $58 million, with an anticipated 2023-24 payment of $16 million. It is really pleasing. This is approximately four times the annual payment that was made under the old scheme, if that makes sense.

The CHAIR: This will be the last question.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: I had better make it a good one, sir. In that case, there was obviously an announcement at the weekend about an increased scope for sports vouchers. How many of those vouchers are you expecting to be redeemed, given that increased scope this week to include, I think, Guides and Scouts, and what is in and what is out, I suppose, in terms of the increased scope?

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: I will not go into the background because I take it you are supportive of that particular move.

The CHAIR: A very short answer would be appreciated; you only have a few seconds.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: All of the Scouts and Guides groups are included. Our modelling is that around 40 per cent of the 7,000 Scouts and Guides will probably take it up in the first year, and the reason that we model like that is that often children and young people will participate in—

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: What is 40 per cent of 7,000? 2,800?

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: To start with, for two reasons: one, because children and young people, as you would be aware, might do Scouts and netball and tennis, and, as you know, they can claim at once, so there is that factor. The other factor is that we hope that families take it up straightaway from when it kicks in on 1 January, but there is often—

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: Can we have a list of what is included, and what is not?

The CHAIR: I am very conscious of the time. If a list can be provided—

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: We can give you something about the eligibility criteria, no problem.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: What a cordial way to conclude, sir.

The CHAIR: The time allotted having expired, I declare the examination of the portfolio of the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing completed. The examination of the proposed payments for the Department for Infrastructure and Transport, and Administered Items for the Department for Infrastructure and Transport will be referred to Estimates Committee A.

Sitting suspended from 10:31 to 10:45.


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