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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-05-04 Daily Xml
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SERVICE SA

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (14:43): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Government Enterprises and Regional Development a question about measures to improve Service SA's services for rural areas.

Leave granted.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: I know opposition members don't want to hear about all the good things we are doing in rural areas, but I will persist. Service SA is the state government's one-stop contact point for government information and services. Service SA offers choice and flexibility to its customers and provides access to government-related services, information products and financial transactions through an integrated network of phone, face-to-face and online delivery channels. It is very good.

An honourable member: Who started that off, Paul? Who started that off?

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: Will the Minister for Government Enterprises and Regional Development tell us how Service SA is acting to improve services to regional areas in South Australia?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for Gambling) (14:44): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. Service SA has developed a new service agent model which will be progressively rolled out across regional communities in South Australia. The state government is committed to expanding the range of government information and services available in regional communities.

Service SA provides smaller rural communities with access to a limited range of state government information and services through its rural service agent program. Service SA currently has eight rural agents, which are located at Port Broughton, Port MacDonnell, Wudinna, Yorketown, Peterborough, Keith, Roxby Downs and Millicent. Service SA first established a rural service agent servicing Clare in 2009, in order to improve community access to services.

Clare has been chosen as the first site in regional SA to introduce the new expanded model on 18 April in response to increased community demand for services there. The service was established in an agreement with Country North Community Services, which is a valued and well established local not-for-profit organisation.

The select range of SA government services that are provided by Country North Community Services include: providing information to customers on government services, processing transactions and downloading forms. This service has proved to be extremely popular, with Country North Community Services acting as the authorised Claire service agent. Some registration and licensing services are provided through the local Australia Post.

Service SA has 20 customer service centres, nine in regional areas and 11 in metropolitan areas. In addition to services already being provided under the rural service agent model, the upgraded services provide all EzyReg transactions available to the public and other delegates. It will also enable members of the community to order replacement numberplates or special plates and replace or renew their driver's licences and learner's permits.

This is in addition to services already available, such as vehicle registration, renewals and learner driver theory tests. It will also provide access to a wider range of more commonly transacted registration and licensing services, as well as some recreational boating services. The Clare community has sought this improved accessibility to registration and licensing transactions and the state government is pleased that it is able to respond.

Service SA is developing an expanded suite of services, including many commonly used registration and licensing services not previously available in rural communities, for delivery by service agents in a range of regional locations.

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