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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-06-26 Daily Xml
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Grievance Debate

State Labor Government

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley—Leader of the Opposition) (15:06): As we reach the halfway mark of this parliamentary sitting year one thing is crystal clear: this Labor government is all spin and very little substance.

Do not forget that Labor told us that they had a whole range of election commitments and that they would deliver on them. Recently we heard about the Premier's Delivery Unit. I mean, let's go through some of these deliveries that they are supposedly supposed to be getting on with. Firstly, there was the delivery in respect of ramping. What happened there? They said that they would fix ramping. Remember that? What have they actually delivered? They have delivered 36 months of the worst ramping in South Australia's history.

What about when it comes to hydrogen, when they said that they would reduce energy prices by 8 per cent? What has the delivery unit delivered there? They scrapped the project. They have come in and said that they are going to get on with fixing the housing crisis, and what have we learned today? Out of the four land releases there is not one slab and not one brick laid on any of those sites. What an absolute disgrace.

The Premier is off, spending $2.4 million on his own special delivery unit—all-stars like Rik Morris. Remember him? But what are they actually delivering? What are they actually delivering? Not much. What we have found out instead is that they are actually using the delivery unit more as a personal spy agency—a spy agency—because they do not actually trust what public servants are doing. That is what we learned during estimates. It is just absolutely out of control.

Of course, fixing ramping was not the only promise that the government made in respect of health in recent times. We have also heard today about how they are letting down people when it comes to elective surgery. I was out with my good friend the member for Schubert not that long ago, when we met with Sue and our friend Jenny. This poor lady has been a nurse for over 50 years—she has been helping out South Australians for basically her whole professional life—and alas, for three years she has been waiting for an operation, and still all we got today was arrogance from this out-of-touch inept health minister. She is still waiting for this operation.

In relation to technical colleges, we know that Labor also promised five of these colleges in the last election. But, in Port Augusta, unfortunately what we heard this week was just hot air: no timeline, no staffing plan and more spin in that regard.

What about our drought-stricken farmers? Despite our ongoing cries and the cries of farmers, especially in the Mid North of our state, for water and for fodder, the estimates unfortunately revealed that the minister could not actually explain how or when this drought relief will reach those who need it most. That is very disappointing because, in the same hearing, we also heard that this government has no current biosecurity strategy to protect our state's $17 billion primary production sector. It is no wonder, with arrogance like that, that unfortunately we have seen many producers, especially in the tomato space recently, go to the wall because of this government's ineptitude. It has been an absolutely woeful performance.

We also found out that Labor is quietly scrapping literacy and numeracy tests for police recruits. Who would think that is a good idea, seriously? Do not forget that they wanted to very quickly brand this as a law and order budget. The reason they wanted to do that is because there was a report put together by SAPOL, but of course we cannot see it. Do you know why we cannot see it? Because they do not want the people of South Australia to hold them to account.

What we have seen from Labor governments in the past is currently continuing to occur again. Usually, the arrogance comes in after a few terms, but alas it is happening here under this government in record speed. You only saw a couple of weeks ago what they did to the Adelaide City Council. This is what happens when Mali thinks he is too big for his RM boots. He thinks he can just steamroll through, whether it is the Adelaide City Council, whether it is Ryan Harrison—I mean, who is next? This guy is carrying on a bit like Caligula, the Roman emperor: going from party to party pillaging. He just does not care—and members opposite laugh. Well, do you know what? I would be worried if I were you. I would be worried, because I do not think your Mali is tough. I would be worried too. Last year, Labor tried to axe 27 research roles at iconic galleries—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: They don't like the truth, they can't handle the truth.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: Member for—what are you now? Florey? You need people like me.

The SPEAKER: Normally I would pull everyone up, but the Tongans are enjoying it.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: What can I say? Nothing but spin and arrogance from this government. Not only will we continue to hold this bad government to account but we will continue to make sure that we shape our alternative vision, our positive vision for the people of South Australia.

The SPEAKER: To our guests from the parliament of Tonga, that does not normally happen. There was a fair bit of carry on, but you seemed to be enjoying the show. Given you were not here in March for the Fringe, we wanted to treat you to a little bit of special entertainment. Please pass on my regards to Lord Speaker when you get back to Tonga as well.

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