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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-05-04 Daily Xml
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Bills

Supply Bill 2023

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 23 March 2023.)

Mr COWDREY (Colton) (12:01): I indicate that I am the lead speaker for the opposition on the bill before the house. I rise to indicate the opposition's support for the Supply Bill 2023. As you are well aware, Mr Speaker, having been in this place for quite some time, this is a reasonably uncontroversial convention of our parliament, to pass this bill that provides in essence stopgap funding for the operation of government and the delivery of public services prior to the Appropriation Bill making its way through this place.

It is very clear that there is not a single person in this place who wants to see a US Congress-style approach to these matters, where government services and buildings are shut down and workers sent home. It is certainly something that we would never want to see within this institution to the point where people are playing chicken with the Appropriation Bill. It goes without saying that our support is well and truly clear for the Supply Bill passing this year.

In the 14 months now that we have seen this government, there are a couple of things that I think have defined their approach. Those two things are pretty simply said as arrogance and hubris. I reflect on commentary that has been made by the media, I think in one of the spin cycle segments a couple of years ago, that in previous iterations of the Labor government when there were articles or reports made by journalists that Labor ministers disagreed to, they used to be shouted at.

Instead, this government has taken the tack of talking down, implying that people are misinformed when there are things that those Labor ministers disagreed with being published. I think that is quite emblematic of the first 14 months of this government. There is a level of arrogance that has crept in and a level of separation from reality in some senses, particularly around the topic of cost of living.

But the very essence of the last election campaign was around ramping. What we have seen over the past 14 months is the highest rates of ramping ever recorded in our state. We have seen this government crab walking away from their central election promise, trying to shift the metric that they were held accountable for.

When it comes to economic management, the facts from the Mid-Year Budget Review are clear: net debt is still rising, net borrowing is still increasing, the net debt to revenue ratio is still rising, and surpluses are lower than they were predicted in the budget just a year ago. But none of this should be surprising to anybody in this place. It is the same old Labor with a budget that is simply all smoke and mirrors, with increased spending and shifting major infrastructure projects that are vital to our state's productivity into the never-never.

We know that the reviews of the north-south corridor and the Women's and Children's Hospital projects have not just seen substantial delays but also significant cost increases in the order of billions of dollars. Unless this government is proposing that those projects are no longer necessary, the associated and now much more significant spend that needs to be undertaken still needs to happen. That debt will still need to be incurred and in the meantime the state and our economy misses out on the productivity gains that would have been possible had those projects been completed earlier.

Over the last couple of days, we have received more details regarding the federal government's major infrastructure review. Suddenly, nearly a year into the federal government, a significant review of infrastructure projects was needed. This is surely a carbon copy, the exact same blueprint, as the Labor government here, but just being undertaken in a less sophisticated fashion.

We know that some major South Australian projects are now facing uncertainty. We do not know what is happening now with the Truro freight bypass, as has already been discussed by this house today. We do not know what is happening to the Princes Highway corridor upgrade. We do not know if the Old Belair Road upgrade is going to happen. We do not know if the Marion Road and Sir Donald Bradman Drive intersection upgrade will ever happen, something that is critical to unlocking significant traffic issues around our major airport.

We do not know the future of the Hahndorf township improvements and access project, something I know the member for Heysen is very closely connected with. Quite significantly, particularly with our country regions, we do not know the future of the road maintenance and safety programs that essentially have been relied on to deliver improvements over the last number of years.

As to cutting or delaying these projects, there is no other way to describe it but as a complete handbrake on economic growth and a barrier to driving the efficiencies needed to support budget repair. It is counterintuitive. It is just another example of the Labor blueprint: review, delay, cost blowouts and shifting the spending outside of forward estimates to cover their increases in spending. By its very definition, it is the Labor playbook.

Next, we move on to the cost-of-living crisis that has taken hold in South Australia. Over the last couple of days, I discussed some of these issues in relation to the typical South Australian family with two kids at public schools and with an average mortgage in South Australia. The opposition has done an analysis to reveal that those families are nearly $17,000 worse off now than they were at this point 12 months ago. It is a frightening number and one that will only increase after another rate increase was announced earlier this week. It is not a number that any typical South Australian household can just absorb.

We have had significant increases across nearly every category, whether it be bread and cereal, meat and seafood, dairy products, fuel, or energy. Inflation is rife right here in Adelaide and higher than in any other capital city in Australia. What have we seen from this government so far in terms of relief and a response to cost of living? The answer is very little, particularly for those typical families that we just mentioned, who are $17,000 worse off at this point than they were a year ago.

If you look back at the last budget cycle, nearly every other jurisdiction in Australia managed to put together an energy bill relief package. If you look around the country, Queensland has a $175 rebate for all residential connections, WA has a $400 rebate for all residential connections; Victoria has a $250 rebate for all residential connections and prior to the last New South Wales election, the Libs on one side had a $250 rebate for all residential connections, and there is a tighter proposed program from the now New South Wales Labor government.

Why are we are talking about energy prices and energy relief as one of the mechanisms for addressing the cost of living in South Australia? The reasons are clear. For starters, energy costs have only gone up since Labor came to office here in South Australia. More importantly, the Australian Energy Regulator, in its draft determination of what is going to happen for the coming 12 months, has predicted at this stage a 22 per cent increase will be borne by South Australians over the coming financial year.

This comes in the face, of course, of federal Labor promising that the average Australian energy bill would reduce by $275. Well, that certainly has not happened, has it? But South Australian families have not even been able to rely on the South Australian government to provide similar relief to what was provided in other jurisdictions.

Earlier in the week, the Minister for Energy used one of his question time Dixers—it was quite extraordinary really, to be completely honest—to outline the fact that he thought it was cheeky of the opposition to go out and provide some clarity around what we think should happen in this space. Why did we feel the need to do that? Because there has been nothing more than a vacuum from those opposite.

Identifying a funding source is not the same as a policy. There is not a single member of those opposite who has been able to tell us how much by way of rebate South Australians are getting, who is getting it, and when.

The Hon. N.F. Cook: It is on the internet.

Mr COWDREY: No idea.

The Hon. N.F. Cook: Do you know how to google? Hey Google, hey Siri, tell me about the energy concessions.

Mr COWDREY: There is no guidance whatsoever.

The Hon. N.F. Cook: It is on there.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Minister!

The Hon. N.F. Cook: I am sorry. It is just an automatic reaction to nonsense.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Minister, the member for Colton has the floor. Member for Colton, continue.

Mr COWDREY: We are aware that jurisdictions will be able to propose their own proposals, matched dollar for dollar by the fund, but to this point I reiterate we have seen no detail in terms of who is going to be covered, by how much, and when—no detail whatsoever. All we have seen is this government point at a funding source.

If, as the Minister for Human Services says, this detail does exist, well, tell South Australians. Tell them now. Tell them what they are getting because it has been irresponsible to this point to have not done that, to have not told South Australians that they will be receiving a specific dollar amount, to have not told South Australians that that relief is on the way in the face of what have been extraordinary increases.

If you look back at the record of the Liberal Party in this space, there is a significant contrast. Over the last term of government, there were ESL savings for every South Australian and significant water bill savings for South Australian families and small businesses. There is one side of this house that takes cost-of-living pressures for families seriously, and that is ours.

Another thing I will be looking closely at in the upcoming budget, with significant interest to be completely frank, will be the setting of fees and charges. We heard last year prior to that budget the Treasurer say—his words—that he had made a policy decision to keep government fees, charges and increases to approximately 2 per cent last year. It was backed again by the Premier later on, saying that it was a clear policy decision.

We know historically that those decisions have been attached to the Treasury indexation rate, but the Treasurer, when discussing fees and charges last year on ABC radio, also said:

…if we are in a position where we see that that—

I will fill that in, 'that' being inflation—

persists for a period of time then of course it's up to the government of the day not to pass on the full extent of that, to adjust that policy and provide some additional relief to households and that will be something that we would consider doing next year in next year's budget once we know what the figures look like over the longer term…

Well, those figures are now very clear. Adelaide has the highest inflation of all capital cities. Inflation has stayed significantly and stubbornly high over the past 12 months, so what is the Treasurer going to do? He has committed, it is in black and white, it is on transcript. What is the Treasurer going to do by way of settings when it comes to fees and charges? He has made the commitment that, should inflation remain high, he would step in. We will wait and watch.

One of the fundamental things that surrounds this budget, and one of the reasons again for us to come out and to call for energy bill relief, has been around the GST windfall that the Treasurer announced just a couple of months ago. I think it is pertinent to really delve into why that additional GST revenue was collected because it comes to the very nature of this whole issue that we have had around cost of living and inflation.

The GST pool was significantly revised earlier this year, therefore our associated distribution of that was increased, and that was basically on the fact of inflation staying so high—higher than was forecast. So, because everyday, typical Australians and South Australians were paying more for everyday items, the government has collected more revenue. There has to be a level of compassion and a level of equity around that in having a concerted consideration that that money would be better placed being distributed back to South Australians to provide relief in a way that makes sense. That is certainly what we believe on this side of the house.

In terms of the local area, I just want to shift and have a short discussion with regard to my local electorate because there are a number of issues that have been popping up as I have spent time over the last couple of months doing what we do as members of parliament. I will never take the opportunity that I have had as the member for Colton for granted. I take seriously my responsibilities to the people I represent, as I know everybody in this place does when we are out there talking at shopping centres, listening at shopping centres, on doors, or in the community more generally at events and functions and everything else that we get involved with.

However, over the past 14 months there has been a growing level of frustration in my community about this government's actions with regard to our coastline, particularly the beaches in my electorate at West Beach, Henley Beach South and Henley. This has culminated over the last couple of months in an event being held. The event was organised by a group of community leaders and facilitated by local surf clubs, both West Beach and Henley Beach. Local sailing clubs were involved, Adelaide Sailing Club and also Henley Sailing Club. It was supported by the local council, the Charles Sturt council. We had upwards of 400 people down on the beach, making it clear to this government that we need action and we need action quickly because our beaches are in desperate strife.

We have West Beach that was in the process of being rebuilt, where that has just not continued. We had a long-term solution that was about to be implemented that saw its contract torn up in favour of a review. What have we seen in the meantime? We have seen Henley Beach South gutted: the clay on the bottom of the beach has basically been exposed, we have concrete footings from the Henley Beach pool back from 30 or 40 years ago being exposed, we have infrastructure that is openly being exposed and footings of buildings being exposed. It is unacceptable, by any means, for any government to willingly and happily allow these things to happen.

A delay has been incorporated in moving down a path where we have seen this review—to have taken 12 months just to get to the point of announcing it, then to have taken another two or three months to discuss how the review will be conducted, to at this point communicating the fact that it will be at least 12 months in the process before we get any sort of advice as to what would potentially be happening.

I have some outstanding questions that I want to pose rhetorically to this government. The first is a question about why we are considering, through this review, options that have already been ruled out as not being feasible. It seems ludicrous to be putting solutions to the community, to be asking for suggestions from the community, that are not feasible and have already been ruled out by the same department that is now undertaking another consultation process. It makes no sense. It makes absolutely no sense to anybody why we would be spending time considering options that we know simply do not work and are not possible in the South Australian context.

The second point that I would like to make to this government is: I think you have seriously, seriously underestimated how bad things are at Henley Beach South—seriously underestimated. I am happy to stand in this place and put onto Hansard and put on record that there is a very real possibility that significant infrastructure will be at risk this winter. We have yet to get to the point of having any significant storms, we are yet to get to the point of having any significant wave activity, yet we are already seeing the existing rock wall starting to be infiltrated and undermined and we have seen rocks starting to fall. There are existing entryways and pathways and steps where infrastructure has not just been exposed but is now being undermined.

There are significant issues here. Seaview Road, The Esplanade—significant road infrastructure—are but one or two metres away from where these rock walls stand. This government needs to take this issue seriously. Delay, delay, delay is not going to make it go away. Sticking your head in the sand on these issues is not going to make them go away.

The last question that I want to pose is in regard to conflict. It is a broader question and one that I will tread lightly with. We have a shadow minister who developed a policy and who took that policy to an election. You were successful. We are on this side of the house; we understand those dynamics. You then have a policy implemented and a minister then having to step aside, based on conflict.

So it is not too hard to draw the conclusion that the policy that was developed may well be conflicted too. How do we get to that point? There is a policy that is implemented, based solely on the fact that it was an election commitment, yet none of those issues of conflict are addressed prior to it being developed and prior to it being implemented. That is a fundamental issue that is broader than just this parliament but one that has to be raised.

I also want to take the opportunity today to encourage my community to get involved in the consultation process. It opened last Friday on 28 April, and it closes on Friday 9 June at 5pm. This is the consultation process around the Adelaide beach management review, which is accessible via the YourSAy website, which is yoursay.sa.gov.au. I know that many in the local community are frustrated by the lack of action on our beaches. I know that many in the community just simply want to see our beaches fixed. That is simply all I want to see happen.

We know that Henley Beach South is in a dire state, that Henley Beach is in a dire state and that West Beach may well return to that should the delay and inaction continue. So I would like to encourage all residents in my electorate, from Grange all the way up to West Beach, back into the suburbs—Kidman Park, Lockleys, Fulham Gardens—and in every part of the electorate to get involved in this, because our beaches matter.

I would encourage those who do make submissions to highlight a couple of things, if they feel that way inclined. The first is that all of our beaches need to be healthy and have sand, because why should our beaches be treated any differently from Somerton, from Brighton, from Glenelg, from Seacliff or from Kingston Park? The second is that West Beach and Henley, and eventually Grange, should not be treated as a sand source for other beaches. Thirdly, I would love it if our community can highlight again the sense of urgency that is necessary around this issue.

We need immediate action; we need action taken now. We had a long-term solution; unfortunately, that contract has been torn up. We need our beaches rebuilt to be healthy and thriving. So please, if you feel inclined—I will share the link—get involved and make sure that our voices are heard and that all beaches are treated equally.

Finally, I want to have a chat in regard to some local projects that have been funded over the term of the last government, and completed under the last government. I think they are important and really provide some framework around where I think our effort needs to be directed in regard to a sports infrastructure program, particularly within the western suburbs. Traditionally, we have always have had a restraint, unfortunately, in terms of the fact that the western suburbs have basically been fully developed. There is no green space that is not utilised or is sitting around that we can turn into parks or community sporting infrastructure, particularly in the local area.

I want to highlight two projects that I think are of significance and that perfectly illustrate the approach that needs to be taken moving forward. The first is a court resurfacing project that was undertaken at the West Beach Tennis Centre. It was a well put together approach for a couple of reasons. The first was the ability, should this project have proceeded, to significantly increase the ability for young people to participate in sport, not just tennis but netball as well.

Essentially, we managed to get the West Beach Tennis Club and the St Michael & All Angels Netball Club together on the same site, having previously only had courts that were marked for tennis. They were able to move down and set up a new home. In the process, the West Beach Tennis Club now has new neighbours for the winter season, which they greatly enjoy, and the St Michael & All Angels Netball Club now has a new home in West Beach.

They also have more teams participating than they have ever had and more court time available in a sport that has traditionally had significant issues in the western suburbs finding available space. It was a win-win for everybody, a sensible and absolutely beneficial project, the legacy of which will last a long time. It is something that I was fully supportive of and highlight as being a fantastic example of where we get things right.

The second, in much the same vein, is to highlight the Henley Hawks Tennis Club. That area sits directly across from Henley Beach Primary School. Traditionally, they did not have lights on quite a number of their courts. They were struggling with the continued issue of not having enough available court time. Lights were popped onto a few of the courts, and it was the first time I think I have seen a community consultation go through with zero complaints from any neighbouring properties, which is a fantastic thing to see. There are lights up, more kids, a higher membership than we have ever had and people playing tennis and enjoying themselves, particularly young people in the local area.

These are the projects we need to continue to get behind and support. These are the projects that make sense. Where we can better utilise existing facilities, where we can ensure that those assets are used to their greatest efficiency, where we can work with local schools to unlock some of the existing facilities that are not utilised to the full extent that they possibly could be—those are the opportunities that we should be looking for.

But I will note that in the latest round of community infrastructure grants not a single dollar was assigned by this government for the local area. That is a shame. That is a big shame for young kids wanting to get involved in sport, for anybody wanting to get involved in sport, in the western suburbs. Those constraints are still there, but there was not a single dollar that this government wanted to commit to the local area.

I return to the reason we are here: the passage of this bill. I reiterate the opposition's support for the bill. I reiterate the fact that this is of a completely uncontroversial nature, and I hope that we see the passage of this bill happen in a swift and efficient manner. I hope that we do not see its passage unnecessary stifled by a conga line of government members. With that, I conclude my remarks.

Mrs PEARCE (King) (12:32): Last year, when I spoke to the Supply Bill, I spoke about my community's clear priorities, priorities that would build upon and strengthen our neighbourhood and support those who live within it—health, education, infrastructure, housing and putting our state back on the map through events such as the Adelaide 500. These priorities were made clear to me by my community whilst out on the doors, at local events, at community catch-ups and, to be honest, even when I am nicking into the shops to grab the kids a few things for their lunchboxes.

I have listened and I will continue to listen to the desires of my community, desires that I will continue to reflect to the team, in turn helping to influence what we deliver for my community. Now that we are one year into our four-year term, I am proud to say that not only have we delivered 48.6 per cent of our election commitments but we also continue to build on the priorities raised by my community.

In the north and north-east, there was a resounding call from just about all residents to improve healthcare services in the area. That is why we, as part of a record investment into health of $2.4 billion in the budget, committed to upgrading an expansion of both Modbury Hospital and Lyell McEwin Hospital. As part of our record investment into our state's public health system, our $47 million project at Lyell McEwin Hospital is on track to deliver 48 more beds with single rooms and ensuites, as well as rooms with speciality care features. But we have not stopped there. We continue to invest in measures to improve our health services.

Take, for example, the redevelopment of the emergency department announced and funded under the previous Labor government, which has had another $4.5 million committed to further expand its capacity from 72 to 76 spaces by the end of this year as part of the final phase emergency department expansion. Alongside this, there is of course the $1.2 million renal ward located in a refurbished site adjacent to the Lyell McEwin, housing nine chairs in the dialysis unit, which will further support the current 12-chair unit in the hospital, allowing for up to 36 haemodialysis patients to get the dialysis care they require closer to home.

As for Modbury Hospital, in addition to providing more subacute beds, we are delivering on our commitment to expand the mental health capacity at the hospital delivering 24 more mental health beds, with a mental health rehabilitation unit combined with a 20-bed older persons mental health unit all in a single build. This will see the total number of mental health beds at the Modbury Hospital increase to 44 purpose-built beds.

Importantly, we have commenced work on bringing care closer to home for those in our community who are needing cancer treatment, having committed $28 million to open a new Modbury Hospital cancer centre by 2025. This will ensure that for those in the north-east who require cancer treatment, they will not have the added stress of having to figure out how they are going to get across town and back at an already challenging time just to receive the care that they need.

On that note, I would like to acknowledge the feedback that I have received from women from The BEAT Movement, who provided me with lived experience suggestions on how we can develop the best care possible in this space. In fact, I appreciate the feedback I receive from all in my community on how we can make improvements within the health system. I look forward to continuing to work with you for our community.

Talking about working for our community, I am proud that we are going to be building a brand-new ambulance station in the heart of Golden Grove. Health professionals reflected a real gap in response times in my community, and the community reflected a desire to see this improved. That is exactly what we are doing. To have already dispatched an additional 20 paramedics to assist our community with more to come by the middle of the year is a real testament to the dedication that we have to my community in this space.

Improving the Lyell McEwin Hospital and expanding its capacity, ensuring that there are more beds at the Modbury Hospital, bringing care closer to home for many in my community and improving our response times in the north and north-eastern suburbs were all priorities made clear by my community when I was out on the doors, on the phones, meeting at the shops and at street-corner meetings. I am so glad to say that we are delivering on this as expeditiously as we can.

I believe it is important to work on the priorities raised by my community and to implement measures that will not just make an immediate difference but will also make positive change to enhance the lives of the next generation. A key way that we can do this is through education, especially as it is a key component on how we can ensure that South Australians are prepared for the future workforce needs that are steadfastly developing in our state.

Of course, with our big plans for the direction our state will be taking thanks to hydrogen, early education and the subs, we are putting in the effort now to ensure that our graduates are ready for the jobs that will be created for the future of work here in South Australia. Among our plans to skill up South Australians is our plan to open five new technical colleges, with our $208.8 million investment providing students a different pathway to achieve the education that suits them whilst also being able to attain their SACE accreditation in the process.

I look forward to the opening of the first technical college at Findon next year, with BAE Systems an employer partner for the college. I am even more excited for the college that will be built in the north-east and I know how much of a positive impact this will have in our community. We are also focused on the skills shortages that are affecting our industries, and I am proud that we were the first state to sign up to the National Skills Agreement and have delivered fee-free TAFE for 6,000 Australians. Areas of study that have surged in popularity through this program include nursing, early childhood education, VET training, project management and cybersecurity.

These are all areas that industry has identified we have a dire shortage in, and we are glad to be playing a role in ensuring that South Australians can acquire the skills necessary to address the skills shortages of today, now and also into the future. I am dedicated to helping ensure that students at all stages of their learning can get an education that suits them, and I have had nothing but support from my community and from industry to make sure that this works so that all South Australians can reap the benefits.

Of course, we know that for our kids to succeed we must invest in their wellbeing. That is why, alongside our bold plans for education, training and skills, we are also prioritising making services available to students who may need a little bit of extra help. This is being achieved through our mental health service in schools program, which will be supporting young people in 65 government high schools, area schools and R-12 schools. With an investment of over $50 million, 100 full-time equivalent mental health and learning support specialists will provide greater support to students.

This investment into our students' mental health includes 55 full-time equivalents for the new School Mental Health Service. Investment in mental health is a key priority that is raised within my community, and I am so pleased that together we have been able to secure a full-time equivalent specialist for two of the high schools in my community, both Golden Grove High School and Salisbury East High School. This will help provide an intervention service and an ability to liaise with other health providers to ensure students are referred to treatment and receive the support they require.

We know that mental health concerns are more likely to emerge in those early years of high school, and with this much-needed program we are putting the supports in place where they are needed, at a time when they are needed, to support young people early and address any concerns before they start to take hold.

I cannot forget to mention another policy commitment that I was enormously proud to see achieved last year, and that is bringing back the Adelaide 500 and breaking records whilst doing it, with more than 12,000 people travelling to South Australia from interstate and 96,671 visitor nights in South Australia due to the event, delivering a record $51.85 million benefit to our economy. With a total of 258,200 visitors over the four-day event and 425 jobs supported, it is safe to say that it was a roaring success.

These numbers represent a huge boost to our economy and mark the return of the race as a success. This race is also about the impact it has had for so many in my community who had lost the security of employment and business generated by the race and who have now had it returned. What has been made clear to me through this process is the added value that events such as this one bring to people and businesses in my community, and the sense of state pride that it brings. We recognise this and have taken the views of my community onboard and continue to invest in events in our state.

Since the Adelaide 500, our state has gone from one festival to another: a successful Fringe, an amazing Adelaide Festival, to the Gather Round, and recently LIV Golf. All of these events have been helping to support our hospitality industry, providing a much-needed boost following COVID and making SA a great state to come and visit, showcasing its strengths not only to the rest of the country but all over the world.

However, without a place to call home, many in our state cannot fully participate in our economy and our society to the fullest potential. That is why I am particularly proud of the work being done in the housing space. Many in my community have made known their struggles with housing, whether it be rate hikes, dealing with rental increases, or struggling to find a home in the right rental market.

With only one year in the past 30 when public housing in South Australia has increased, the government is committed to boosting our public homes. As part of A Better Housing Future, the state government put in an additional $60 million over the next four years for additional public housing, on top of the $175.5 million commitment we took to the election to deliver 400 new homes, upgrade 350, and allow for the maintenance of a further 3,000 properties. By mid-2026, this will bring the construction of new public homes to 564, whilst also halting the sale of 580 public housing properties that would have otherwise been sold.

We are also set on delivering the biggest residential land release in our state's history, which will deliver at least 23,700 homes across Dry Creek, Concordia, Sellicks Beach and Hackham. Just in the last few days, we announced a land release for housing, with 800 homes in Aldinga, 600 in Noarlunga Downs and 500 in my community of Golden Grove.

This release will ensure that we are ready for the future of our state's population. It sets us up for more jobs and a boost to our economy, but it also opens the door to the prospect of home ownership for so many who may have thought they were unable to achieve that. I am following the developments in this space very closely in my community, and I will continue to work with and listen to my community as this progresses.

In my address to the Supply Bill last year, I talked at length about my amazing community, their commitment to standing up for what they wanted to see improved in our community and not backing down against cuts to their essential services. I spoke about the proposed cuts to the bus stops by the previous government, which would have negatively impacted so many in my neighbourhood. By standing alongside my community, we were able to stop those cuts and preserve the much-needed public transport system for the many people who rely on it.

I made it clear that I would not let my fight stop at just saving bus stops from being cut; I wanted to help build on the standard of public transport we have in the north and the north-east. That is why I committed to installing 20 bus shelters across the community, and that is progressing well.

But we have not stopped there. We have begun works on the TTP park-and-ride expansion. We have introduced the tap and pay on the O-Bahn and are rolling this out for bus services in our community. We have also made travel free for seniors. We recognise the desire for investment in our public transport, and we are taking active steps in this space, and we will continue to do so.

Keeping with the theme of transport, many in my community know the struggle that is navigating The Grove Way when traffic can become easily banked up, especially as you get closer to Main North Road. This is why I committed to the upgrading of The Grove Way junctions with Canterbury Drive and Green Valley Drive, as well as the junction of Main North Road and Target Hill Road in Salisbury Heights. Because traffic flow and congestion is a concern in this area, I am pleased to be working alongside my community on this matter and am pleased that this, too, is progressing well with site investigation works to commence shortly.

Another big win we have had out in One Tree Hill is the installation of a much-needed and widely called for Give Way sign at the intersection of Black Top Road and One Tree Hill Road. This intersection has been raised with me as requiring further road safety measures due to a range of factors, and I am proud to have played a role in its installation, along with the grassroots push to have it there.

Speaking of grassroots push and our community's appreciation of services, there is of course Modbury Service SA. I am so pleased that this Saturday we will be opening the Service SA centre in Modbury from 9am to 5pm, offering greater convenience to those in my community to access the services that they need when they have the time. While the previous government may have wanted to close some of our Service SA centres, we are intent on providing greater flexibility to the many customers who rely on it and ensuring that they can access it when it suits them.

With 48.6 per cent of our election commitments delivered in our first year in office, I am as determined as ever to continue the job of actioning and delivering in areas that are a priority for my community. As we do, I reaffirm my commitment to my community that I will continue to be a strong voice for them both inside and outside of this place, and I will continue to fight for them and their needs.

I love my community and the wonderful people who make it up, who fight for what they believe in and who support one another. They make me so proud to stand alongside them and to continue working towards delivering on what matters most to them. I commend this bill to the house.

Ms THOMPSON (Davenport) (12:48): I, too, rise to offer my support for the Supply Bill presently before the house. The Supply Bill essentially keeps the functions of government and public sector offices running until the state budget and Appropriation Bill is passed.

We are a government that wants to deliver for South Australia, and we are delivering. I am excited to be part of a team that is putting people at the centre of everything that we do, a team that will never stop fighting for what is important: a better health system, better schools, opportunities for local businesses and jobs, much-needed protections for our environment and, overall, a better future for South Australia.

This government is prioritising what is important for South Australians. I know that our communities have been pleased to see a record investment in our health system and I am particularly pleased that partnering with the Albanese government we will see a $400 million spend at the Flinders Medical Centre for more beds, for an upgraded intensive care unit and for an expansion of dedicated mental health and older persons facilities.

Our government is taking every possible step to reduce the strain on emergency departments, to reduce pressure on ambulances and to free up hospital beds for those who need them most. We know that a major cause of ramping is bed block and hospital overcrowding, so we are significantly boosting bed numbers and extra staff as well as working on improving flow-through to help ease the pressure on the overall health system.

The Malinauskas Labor government inherited a health system under significant pressure, driven by the lack of investment in beds, staff and services under the former Liberal government. Their inaction, or their blatant neglect of the health system, resulted in ramping increasing 485 per cent during the Liberals' term in government. The Liberals had no plan or policies to address ramping and hospital system capacity. In contrast, the Malinauskas Labor government's number one priority is addressing the ramping crisis that we inherited, and we are delivering a generational investment to rebuild our health system.

The pressures of cost of living grow every day. No matter what point of life we are at, we are all feeling it. Our team that recognises how important a leg-up can be, has doubled the Cost of Living Concession for pensioners and low income earners because people should not have to choose between turning the heater on when they get home or a hot meal.

People are certainly feeling the shock of energy prices, and we are responding by working with the commonwealth government on an energy bill relief package to help shield our community from the impact of global energy price increases. The eligibility of this concession will be much broader than usual concessions and will have a huge impact on South Australians doing it tough. Temporary relief on power bills will be targeted on households receiving income support, pensioners and Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders, family tax benefit A and B recipients and small business customers of electricity retailers.

The Supply Bill keeps important projects from the previous budget rolling along, like the major funding commitments in my community that I am very happy to provide an update on today. A key priority for my community is road safety, particularly with regard to the roads around our schools. With that in mind, I have been proud to deliver safety improvements at five local schools in my community, including the Aberfoyle Hub Primary School, Aberfoyle Park High School, Braeview Primary School, Craigburn Primary School and Pilgrim campus school.

Main Road, Cherry Gardens, was identified by the RAA as South Australia's second riskiest metro road in 2021, and my community has long been advocating for it to be upgraded. Sadly, those pleas fell on the deaf ears of the previous Liberal government, but this government is investing in road safety with a $10 million upgrade of Main Road being delivered as part of a $120 million Adelaide Hills Productivity and Road Safety Package.

The concept design includes road and curve widening to improve safety for road users and access for heavy vehicles, plus new road resurfacing to ensure long-term safety and integrity. In recent weeks, the wonderful residents who live along Main Road, Cherry Gardens, like passionate local Mr Nick Villios, are being consulted by the Department for Infrastructure and Transport as we finalise plans to prepare to start construction later this year.

We have also been busy undertaking a traffic study of the intersections along Happy Valley Drive. I have campaigned for a solution alongside the Hon. Nat Cook and the Hon. Amanda Rishworth to resolve some of the congestions at this site along Happy Valley Drive. I am pleased to report that following significant community engagement as well as traffic counting and having surveying work done and visits from engineers, the department is gearing up to present some potential solutions. I appreciate the many members of my community who made submissions, and I am looking forward to sharing the completed plans with the community and working towards progressing works at this location.

Supporting grassroots sport is a big priority for both my community and for this government, and it has been fantastic to see particularly women's and girls' footy soaring in popularity over the last few years. My 11-year-old daughter got her first pair of footy shorts last night and is looking forward to her first game of footy tomorrow night. But with all this growth, the clubs are needing to provide appropriate facilities.

In my electorate, the Flagstaff Hill Football Club received new change rooms a little over a year ago, and this government has committed $1 million to upgrade the Happy Valley Sports Park, which includes improvements for footy, with additional change rooms, and also upgrades for cricket and for lawn bowls. There is also a $3 million commitment to upgrade the Paul Murray Recreation Centre to support Hub Gymnastics, the largest gymnastics centre in the south. That will help them to expand their facilities, and support not just the 700-strong membership that they have now but also the extra 500 kids on their wait list.

Just across the road at Serpentine Reserve, I have been speaking with locals and community groups about upgrading this reserve, and I am very pleased to report that, depending on the weather over the next few weeks, a half-court basketball court is very close to completion. Upgrades at Serpentine Reserve will also include refurbishment and reconfiguration of cricket nets, the addition of lighting of the car park, shade over the playground and improved seating and picnic areas.

The Happy Valley and Flagstaff Hill area is becoming extremely well known for its beautiful open spaces and trails, so I am pleased that we are spending $1 million to complete the final stage of the Minkarra link trail, linking the northern and southern trails and promoting health communities.

I am proud that as a member of this Labor team I have been able to secure some great local wins for my electorate of Davenport but, as an animal lover, one project that I am particularly excited about is the $150,000 expansion of the Minkarra Dog Park, which we were able to open for the community a couple of weeks ago. This new separate section of the park is just for the little dogs, so that they can play safely and socialise in a smaller setting. You could literally see the smiles on the faces of the dogs as they bolted into their new play space to make new friends.

I appreciated spending time speaking with Kelsey and Andrew about their little dog Jodie who tragically passed away after being attacked by a larger dog almost two years ago. Jodie was a major reason I campaigned for this park and it was lovely to see them at the opening. There are still a few minor elements to complete this project, like bins and signage, but it is now open for the community to enjoy.

My community will also benefit from a $250,000 upgrade at the Hub Library at Aberfoyle Park to improve pram and wheelchair access. This is an upgrade which locals have advocated passionately for for some time. The Aberfoyle Community Centre will receive $1.5 million to expand the centre and its incredible services, as well as an additional $40,000 for a much-needed community shed service. I seek leave to continue my remarks.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.

Sitting suspended from 12:58 to 14:00.

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