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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2010-05-11 Daily Xml
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Address in Reply

ADDRESS IN REPLY

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister Assisting the Premier in Public Sector Management) (15:56): I bring up the following report of the committee appointed to prepare the draft Address in Reply to His Excellency the Governor's speech:

1. We, the members of the Legislative Council, thank Your Excellency for the speech with which you have been pleased to open parliament.

2. We assure Your Excellency that we will give our best attention to all matters placed before us.

3. We earnestly join in Your Excellency's prayer for the Divine blessing on the proceedings of the session.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (15:57): I move:

That the Address in Reply as read be adopted.

The traditional language of the Address in Reply, as we just heard recited by the Clerk, contains a lot of prayerful beseeching. I prefer to commence by recognising the traditional owners of the land on which this parliament was built, the Kaurna people, and acknowledging that we meet here today on their lands.

I congratulate the Governor on his excellent speech, which clearly outlined the government's platform for the next four years. I thank the Governor for his tireless work for all South Australians, in particular his efforts in supporting many local non-profit community groups, which do such invaluable work for our great state and its people. I also welcome and extend my congratulations to the newly elected members who have joined us in this parliament, particularly those who have taken up positions in the Legislative Council, that is, the Hon. Tammy Jenkins, the Hon. Jing Lee and the Hon. Kelly Vincent. I look forward to working constructively with each of you for the betterment of all South Australians.

May I say to you, Mr President, listening in another place, that I look forward to your continuing stewardship of the Legislative Council and to the usual calm and impartial manner in which you conduct yourself.

Today, I will highlight some aspects of the Governor's speech that I would like to reflect on further. The government first launched South Australia's Strategic Plan in March 2004, setting bold targets as a basis for increased economic, social and environmental security. The Strategic Plan clearly sets out six major bold objectives for action: growing prosperity, improving wellbeing, attaining sustainability, fostering creativity and innovation, building communities, and expanding opportunities.

In January 2007, as the government entered its second term, the Strategic Plan was reviewed and targets were increased. Now, as we begin a third term, the government will once again be updating South Australia's Strategic Plan. Whilst many different priorities will be documented in the 2010 Strategic Plan, I will focus today on an area that is of particular interest to me, that is, renewable energy. The South Australian government can certainly be proud of its response to climate change and the way in which it fosters new clean energy technologies.

I must say that I was very disappointed in the way the opposition tried to smear the government's record on renewable energy during the election campaign just passed. It was probably too much to hope that the opposition would congratulate the government on its wonderful achievements in renewable energy policy, but the baseless attacks were a bit of a low point, I must say. No wonder, then, that the community chose to put its faith in the government once more. I take this opportunity to set the record straight and put the facts on the table for all to judge.

In 2002 when the government first came to office there was not a single wind power farm in South Australia. Despite the fact we are home to some of the best wind profiles in the nation, we did not have a single functioning wind turbine. In spite of the eight long years of Liberal inactivity on renewable energy, thanks to this government and its forward looking policies we are now home to nearly 50 per cent of the nation's wind power.

Although South Australia has just 8 per cent of Australia's population, we currently hold 47 per cent of Australia's wind power generation. Currently, there are 11 wind farms in South Australia, generating up to 868 megawatts of power. More projects are under construction, and it is expected that by July this year the total wind power generated in South Australia will pass the 1,000 megawatt mark. I will put that figure in an international context. If South Australia were a nation state, it would rank second in the world only behind Denmark in the amount of wind energy it hosts per capita as a proportion of its total electricity generation.

As the Governor mentioned in his speech, last year the government increased targets for renewable energy production to 33 per cent by 2020—well above the national target of 20 per cent by 2020. Two independently prepared consultants' reports have advised us that 33 per cent is a credible and achievable target which is certainly worth striving for.

There are many different ways the government is ensuring that we reach this new ambitious target. We have established the Renewables SA Board that will provide a single focus for our efforts to attract more renewable energy to the state. We have created a $20 million Renewable Energy Fund and invested in a green grid feasibility study to unlock the renewable energy potential of Eyre Peninsula. We provide the nation's most user-friendly land use planning and land access regime. South Australia has become the first jurisdiction in Australia to rebate payroll tax for the construction phase of large scale renewable energy projects. We have committed to establishing a sustainable technologies precinct at Tonsley Park to support and promote the development of clean technology industries.

We are doing remarkably well in clean energy investment. For example, South Australia has attracted 94 per cent of all Australian investment in geothermal projects; that is, 94 per cent of $462 million worth of investment. By the way, since 2002 this government has attracted nearly $2 billion worth of combined investment by private energy companies in wind farms across the state.

South Australians can be particularly proud of the work being done with solar power. The government has installed solar panels on prominent public buildings and mandated the installation of solar panels on all new and substantially refurbished government buildings. We invested in Australia's largest rooftop solar array—a 10,000 square metre installation at the Royal Adelaide Showground, some 12,720 solar panels across six large rooftops. This has been recognised formally as a power station and been added to the register of accredited power stations under the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000. It demonstrates that solar panels can supply electricity on a commercial scale.

South Australia also lays claim to Australia's first solar feed-in legislation. We pay a premium to consumers who return electricity to the grid. This scheme has been overwhelmingly successful, with the number of grid-connected solar systems in South Australia increasing from 1,500 to over 12,000 systems since the legislation was announced. We now have around 20 per cent of Australia's residential grid-connected solar photovoltaic capacity—another example of this state punching above its weight.

The South Australian government has also committed to supporting emerging renewable energy fields, such as wave technology and the production of biofuels from native microalgae. Some of the other clean energy initiatives that the government has supported recently include:

Mandating the desalination plant be powered entirely by renewable energy.

The establishment of a regional sustainability centre at Whyalla in the Upper Spencer Gulf region.

The development of a prototype solar-geothermal hybrid plant.

The development of a solar-thermal air conditioner that offers potential applications for residential homes.

While the first two projects I have mentioned are self-explanatory, allow me to discuss the other two in some greater detail.

First, in relation to the development of a solar-geothermal hybrid plant, this project will be led by Professor Gus Nathan, a director of the Centre for Energy Technology at the University of Adelaide, and Heliotherm, a subsidiary company of the South Australian geothermal energy developer Petratherm Ltd.

The team will use an integrated boiler to exploit both energy sources in a unique configuration, reducing capital costs and producing highly efficient clean power. The state government's Renewable Energy Fund has contributed $700,000 towards this project, and this is in addition to almost $800,000 already committed from the Premier's Science and Research Fund.

Secondly, the development of a solar thermal air conditioner shows some promise. The government has provided a $200,000 investment for the development of an air conditioner that will turn heat from the sun into cool air. The project will focus specifically on residential applications in a bid to address growing demand for electricity during our long, hot summers. In the past three years, electricity demand on hot days has grown by 20 per cent, and this is attributed to the increased use of conventional air conditioners.

If we can develop an air conditioning system that uses energy from the sun, rather than from the power grid, we could potentially reduce the average householder's energy use by over one half. These projects are just two practical examples of the government's commitment to renewable energy. It is always important to ask ourselves: are these initiatives (such as those I have outlined today) actually going to make a real difference? Will we cut emissions through the increased use of clean energy? The answer seems to be simply, yes. The International Climate Group's Greenhouse Indicator Annual Report for 2009 confirms that South Australia leads the nation in carbon emission reductions and was the only state in Australia to record levels below that of 2000.

It is important to acknowledge that not only did South Australia's emissions drop by 3.2 per cent over that time but also our economy grew by more than 27 per cent. Our renewable energy initiatives are good news not only for the environment but also for the economy. A report to the Climate Institute last year predicted that there would be almost 4,000 jobs in the construction phase alone of the already planned renewable energy projects in South Australia. The clean energy sector will continue to create jobs across all skill levels for many years to come, and today I have highlighted just some of our renewable energy initiatives and achievements.

Fostering clean, green energy is a key priority for this government, and this will be reflected in the updated South Australian Strategic Plan. As Clare Peddie wrote in The Advertiser on 12 February this year:

While the rest of the world argues about long-term cuts to greenhouse gas emissions, South Australia is getting on with the business of saving the planet.

Again, I thank the Governor for his address to the opening of the parliament and for outlining the goals that this government has set itself. It is a great honour to be part of this government and to serve the people of South Australia. I am proud to stand here today as a member of one of the most diverse legislative councils in South Australian history. We may not always agree as members of this council (in fact, I am pretty certain there will be times when we will not agree quite vociferously), but I do look forward to working with you all over the next four years and beyond, passionately debating the best policy outcomes for all South Australians.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (16:07): I would like to second the motion. It gives me a great deal of pleasure to respond to the address delivered on 6 May by our Governor, His Excellency Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce AC CSC RANR. Is that not impressive, Mr President? The Governor last summoned the parliament on 10 September 2008, and it was in the course of my address in reply speech the following day that I welcomed and congratulated His Excellency on his many distinguished contributions to the community and economic life of our state.

Since taking office, His Excellency and Mrs Scarce have embraced their roles with great dedication. They have become an integral part of the fabric of public life here in South Australia, and they have brought a freshness and enthusiasm to their numerous tasks which has endeared them to us all. I take this opportunity to express my appreciation of His Excellency's gracious remarks in support of the government's key objectives for the coming term: the promotion of jobs and investment; the creation of safer communities; the enhancement of our state's infrastructure; and the provision of first-class health and education services—all within the context of the protection of our unique environment.

The Rann Labor government has been re-elected for a third term on the basis of its solid economic management, its socially inclusive policies, its focus on tackling crime, its leadership on renewable energy, its creation of real, well-paid jobs; and its optimism and confidence in the capacity of South Australians to rise to the many challenges that confront us in the 21st century.

The legislative program outlined by the Governor for the first session of the 52nd parliament makes it abundantly clear that the government will continue to provide the people of this state with economic growth, employment opportunities in the city and in regions, security, world-class hospitals, investment in schools and specialist teaching staff and improved transport systems. All this is in a vibrant, diverse and tolerant society that looks out with assurance to our region and the global community. His Excellency called us to convene for the dispatch of business, and I will now turn to that business.

As I have already indicated, the government is intent on improving our economic performance, and integral to this is the rate of employment. We will create 100,000 jobs over the next six years. Pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships and training places will be introduced across a variety of industries and focus especially on areas in which skills shortages and underemployment have been identified.

As an additional measure to promote employment, payroll tax on the wages of apprenticeships and trainees will be abolished. Local small to medium-size manufacturers will be assisted by way of a new investment development program. On the issue of taxes, a substantial reduction in land taxes will remove the burden of their payment from almost 75,000 of our people.

We will continue to build on the health system and infrastructure. Our major hospitals will be redeveloped and expanded and their services augmented. We have adopted the realistic target that by 2013 95 per cent of all patients attending emergency facilities will be treated and either admitted or discharged within four hours. We have already made provision for over a quarter of a million elective surgeries and other procedures over the next four years.

Of course, work on the new Royal Adelaide Hospital goes on apace. We anticipate that construction will commence early next year. The new RAH will be the jewel in the crown of South Australia's health infrastructure, with state-of-the-art facilities and protocols and a private room for every patient. This will benefit not only the patients but also the hospital staff. Just think of the two issues here: infection control and privacy—and there are many more.

At the same time, additional funding pursuant to the recent COAG agreement will be allocated toward services including mental health initiatives with particular relevance to our young people and nursing home accommodation for those in need of specialised aged care.

The defence and mining resources industries have been bringing new impetus and prosperity to our state, particularly since the Rann government took office. In the last financial year, the latter brought in more than $2½ billion dollars in export income to our state. We will ensure that additional funding is available for initiatives intended to strengthen mining employment and see the Olympic Dam extension to completion.

Geothermal exploration, along with developments in wind and solar technologies, has the potential to transform South Australia into the nation's renewable energy powerhouse. Our Labor government is ready to capitalise on our state's resource bounty; indeed, we have attracted the lion's share of investment in geothermal power technology in South Australia for the period 2002-13, enabled by the government's visionary and highly effective Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Act.

As premier Rann stated when outlining last year's budget, 'The Rudd government has asked every state to reach a 20 per cent target for renewable electricity generation by 2020.' We had a much more ambitious target in South Australia—to reach that 20 per cent target by 2014. We are going to reach our target ahead of our 2014 deadline and years ahead of the national deadline. Our new even tougher target of 33 per cent by 2020 will keep us at the forefront internationally of jurisdictions supporting renewable energy.

Yet another demonstration of the vision that characterises our government's actions, both now and into the future, is our plan for a sustainable technologies precinct at Tonsley Park. It will once again put South Australia under the spotlight when it comes to the provision of support—not just lip service but genuine support—to the development of clean, green technologies.

In regard to defence industries, it is to the credit of our Governor (among others, of course) that our state is now Australia's defence powerhouse. As we know, it was following his retirement from the Navy that His Excellency put together and headed up the team that obtained the commonwealth contract to build the air warfare destroyers here in Adelaide. He also advised the organisation set up to deliver on our shipbuilding infrastructure and skills commitment, a lasting contribution to our community's prosperity and standing in the federation.

The mining and defence industries need scientists, geologists, mechanics, engineers, electronics and logistics specialists, among many other skilled workers, and that is why the government will focus on the recruitment and retention of specialist science and maths teachers. Once again, we are acting today to secure our state's future. Education is crucial to our vision of that future.

The government is committed to securing excellence in education for our children. We are substantially expanding four of our flagship senior schools: Glenunga, Brighton, Marryatville and Adelaide. We are establishing 10 children's centres which will provide one-stop services in health, parenting, child care and preschool placement. We are creating six new units for the education of children with disabilities and six new behavioural centres to assist those children who are experiencing difficulties engaging with school routines and procedures.

Efficient, safe transport is integral to all these plans, particularly when one considers the projected growth in our population over the next several years. Again, we look to the responsible management of growth through well-informed, careful planning.

Our government is spending $2 billion—that is five times as much as the previous Liberal government—on building an improved public transport system, including the extension and electrification of rail lines. The Northern Expressway is scheduled for completion this year, and it is anticipated that a design and construction contract will be awarded also in this year for the South Road Superway. This project will generate substantial employment and business opportunities while improving transport efficiency and safety, removing bottlenecks and reducing congestion in the metropolitan area. We will, at long last, duplicate the Southern Expressway—that monument to the lack of foresight and the staggering ineptitude of past conservative governments.

I digress, so returning to the government's plans in the transport portfolio, I applaud the implementation in the coming term of road black spot improvement programs, expanded road safety programs, the establishment of an inexperienced driver category for those with less than two years' driving experience, the mandatory application of alcohol interlocks for repeat drink drivers and tougher sanctions for people who cause harm while engaged in illegal street racing.

I turn now to the matter of water security. A desalination plant will begin delivering water to our communities by the end of this year. The plant will be powered by 100 per cent renewable energy and will deliver up to half of the capital's water needs every year once fully operational.

We will continue to stand up for the River Murray and for the myriad life forms (including people) who depend on its water. We will provide rebates for rainwater tanks to a maximum of 40,000 tanks. We will not maintain, nor will we double, but we will triple our stormwater catchment amount by 2012.

We understand that water security is vital and so is the security and wellbeing of our community, physically and emotionally. Law and order is a priority for this government. This year we will have a record number of police officers: 4,400. The crime rate has dropped by a third since we took office and this is in no small measure due to the Rann government's increased spending on the operational budget of the South Australian police force, which is up 79 per cent since the Liberals' last state budget.

In this term we intend to create the southern community justice court so as to deal in a timely fashion with offences relating, for example, to drug use and like behaviours. We will amend evidence laws with regard, where appropriate, to prior court attendance and will legislate for new parole restrictions for child sex offenders. We will amend laws to do with the confiscation of assets and we will legislate to control the carriage of weapons. Ways to discourage and reduce antisocial acts, so often perpetrated after the consumption of alcohol and/or other drugs, will be reviewed and amendments introduced where applicable.

The maintenance of South Australia's AAA rating is a source of great pride to us, particularly when one considers the financial instability that still affects many other countries. The government is noted for its excellent financial management and this is a reputation we intend to guard and enhance. I believe that South Australia is on the verge of a period of great prosperity but we must remain vigilant and prudent with regard to fiscal matters. It is for this reason that we have established the Sustainable Budget Commission whose midyear report will be closely considered as the government frames the budget for introduction in September.

What is the social dividend of all this activity, all this prosperity, both current and prospective? We in South Australia are noted for the peace and harmony of our diverse communities. Our social inclusion agenda continues to bring rewards for us as individuals, as groups and as a polity. The Social Inclusion Board (the very same organisation those opposite would have disbanded had they won office) has done excellent work in the areas of homelessness, Indigenous health, mental illness and school retention. It has now been asked to apply its unique approach to the development of a master plan for real reform in disability related matters, right through government agencies in the state. I look forward to hearing the board's recommendations for action.

It is essential to our ethos—the Labor ethos—that our community as a whole benefits from the economic and building program the government has set out and not just a privileged few; nor am I discussing a purely financial benefit. From the program, many other benefits follow. It is a truism that our cultural life reflects who we are and shows us to the world. Here in South Australia we are a great cultural community and, of course, our love of sport is a significant part of our culture. This government will oversee the expansion of our highly successful Convention Centre and its landscaping and other works which, alongside the redeveloped Adelaide Oval, will create a coherent, vibrant and accessible cultural and sporting precinct. The celebrated Adelaide Festival of Arts will become an annual event, along with the Fringe, the Cabaret Festival, WOMAD, the Clipsal 500 and the Tour Down Under.

I am excited about the government's reform and other agendas and look forward to the coming term. As I said before in this place, looking forward and planning now for the future are the hallmarks of this government and the reason that South Australia now steps up with pride. Contrast this with the situation we faced eight years ago—those opposite may well shake their heads and I note that the Hon. Ms Lee looks quite embarrassed about the previous Liberal government's record. Rest assured that we have fixed up the problems and we are now looking at full steam ahead.

To appreciate the present and the future, one must balance and compare these with the past. We inherited high unemployment but we have turned that around. We have created more than 111,000 real jobs since taking office. We have invested nearly $400 million in our naval shipbuilding yard and that investment is paying off. Our figures are better than any other state. We inherited a high crime rate, our elderly citizens were afraid to cross the street and go out at night. That rate is now down by a third. We are recruiting more police and toughening more than 100 criminal laws. Crime numbers have dropped by almost 200 a day.

We inherited a dysfunctional health and hospitals system. We now have more public beds, more salaried doctors and more nurses per capita than any other state. We have 1,074 more doctors and 3,692 more nurses than we had eight years ago, and we will build the new $1.7 billion Royal Adelaide Hospital.

We inherited a moribund economy, neglected or non-existent infrastructure, and a misguided complacence in public policy and forward planning. We now have a thriving economy and a massive infrastructure program, including: $2 billion allocated to building a better public transport system; the majority of the country's exploration and mining investment—there is so much more; water security in the pipeline; health and education services to be proud of; and a social inclusion program that has seen the homeless housed and early school leavers re-engaged with the education system. Let us not forget that, whilst addressing today's needs and the challenges of the future, we are intent on protecting and nurturing our precious South Australian lands, waters—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The opposition will suffer in silence.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: —flora and fauna. We look outwards now in South Australia; we are proud of our state, and we trust in our present and our future. Members opposite speak of trust, but it is abundantly clear that they do not even trust each other. I could really contend that they ran one of the most dishonest campaigns I have ever observed. But that is in the past. The people have made their choice, and it was a correct choice. In his address His Excellency stated very clearly:

The government enters its third term seeking to build further on our state's existing prosperity and momentum. It aims to enable South Australians to maximise the opportunities available today and to position our state to meet the challenges and reap the rewards presented by the future.

These words encapsulate the approach of the Rann Labor government: a forward-looking approach, an inclusive approach, an approach that allows each person to realise aspiration, an approach that extends a hand to those who are vulnerable or in trouble, and an approach that recognises that security, in all its manifestations, is key to our wellbeing and growth. Our Governor trusts that we will serve the advancement of the welfare of all South Australians in our deliberations, and I endorse those remarks. I pledge that I will work constructively with all here today in producing good laws for the benefit of our state.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (16:25): I rise as the lead and first speaker of many from the opposition to support the motion to adopt the Address in Reply. Before beginning, I congratulate the Governor on his address last week and also on the way he has discharged his duties and the wonderful work he does around our community, along with Mrs Scarce, who provides great support to the Governor and also independently of him in the work she does around our community. I also congratulate their hardworking staff, who do a tremendous job. The opposition, and I personally, support the great effort the Governor makes in promoting this state and in supporting the residents of South Australia.

In the Governor's address he was confirming the government's commitment to reconnect and re-engage with the state. That is because this government lost connection and failed to engage with the state. We can only look at the decision to shift the Royal Adelaide Hospital—a decision, as members opposite have mentioned, to cost $1.7 billion (and I expect it will be much more than that when, sadly, it is built on that site). They did not seek any professional advice on whether it was the best location for such a building. You would think that, if you are going to spend that amount of money, you would put it in the right location. It is a wasted opportunity for the local economy in terms of South Australia moving away from its reputation as a backwater. It could have enlivened the whole west end of the city if that site were preserved for an entertainment precinct and an inner city stadium. However, this government thought it knew best. In fact, the Premier, probably the health minister and the Treasurer thought they knew best and decided to build a hospital there.

The Governor spoke about the expansion of the Convention Centre, plus major development works to transform the southern bank of the River Torrens. This government fails, in particular, to set out a proper plan for the whole riverside west precinct. From my inspection just last week—the day after the opening of parliament—of the proposed site for the new Royal Adelaide Hospital, there is no long-term plan for the land beyond the railway lines, extending to the banks of the River Torrens west of Morphett Street Bridge. Apart from costing the new RAH—and I think the figures are somewhat short—no economic modelling has been presented to make a compelling argument for locating the new hospital rather than the inner city stadium and the entertainment precinct at this site.

If we look at the economic value, we have some 4,000 people a day moving in and out of the Royal Adelaide Hospital currently, and when moved to its new site we will still have only about 4,000 people a day—patients, medical specialists, people making deliveries and people visiting patients. It does not provide any economic activity and stimulus. This government has missed an opportunity.

Professor Laura Lee stated that the hospital was an example of successfully integrated design. However, the hospital proposal has not been selected and the location is totally divided from the current medical facilities.

The Hon. G.E. Gago: It's up the road from them.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: The minister said it is up the road from them; it is a kilometre and a half. She calls it a few steps!

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: I had a site inspection last week, and the only public transport access is by tram. It will be particularly difficult for people to get to it and it is dislocated. They say they know best and they sought professional advice. You got expert advice that it was the best location, did you not? You have never been game to table it because you did not get the advice.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! It is time for government members to suffer in silence.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: There was an opportunity for a wonderfully enlivened west end, but this government has failed to deliver that. Last week I asked the minister about the experience of Professor Lee as a world-class practising architect rather than an academic. He was unable to give an example of practical architecture by Professor Lee that I could actually visit and, on behalf of South Australians, work out what we might see here in Adelaide. However, he did mention that she was associated with Mr Jan Gehl (and I note that it was a former minister for planning and transport, the Hon. Diana Laidlaw, who brought Mr Gehl, the Danish expert, to Adelaide).

A report that eventuated from that visit was 'Public Spaces, Public Life', which discussed the River Torrens and how, over the past 150 years, the views and access to the river have been all but lost. The report put that down mainly to the massive building fronts on North Terrace—of course, to the east of this building—but with building a great, big hospital along that site the opportunity will be lost again. In light of the above, along with the 15 per cent swing in the seat of Adelaide, the state government should concede that there is no mandate to transfer the Royal Adelaide Hospital to the rail yard site.

Retouching on the point that Professor Lee's view of the new RAH seems completely unfounded, the state government has developed a reputation for seeming very uneasy about accepting the challenges and criticisms offered by respected international thinkers. Mr John Montgomery is a particular example of this. His practical experience as an urban planner and economist could have been an asset to South Australia; instead, he became impatient as new urban progress projects failed. In fact, I think he was publicly reported as saying that South Australia and Adelaide were at risk of becoming an above-ground cemetery.

Treasurer Foley stated on ABC TV that people like Montgomery should 'get on their bike and get out of town'. The view implied that Montgomery had nothing to offer. It also suggested that if a Thinker in Residence's thinking does not fit with that of the government, they do not belong. If that is the case, it seems the global view remains well beyond Adelaide's field of vision. It comes as no surprise that Professor Lee's views happen to sit very well with the government, and of course we all know that she has particularly strong friendships within very high levels of the government.

The Governor spoke of an estimated $71.5 billion of major projects in the pipeline that were bolstering economic development. While the Premier reiterates that we must keep small businesses afloat, significant contracts have been handed to interstate and multinational players. While some projects have involved South Australian companies, they are rarely the head contractor, and thus the profits from these projects flow overseas and interstate. The Labor government has failed to give South Australian businesses a competitive edge in winning government contracts—unlike the Liberal opposition, which presented a promising policy to get South Australians back into the game with local participation criteria for winning local contracts.

Throughout the election campaign, the Rann government promised 100,000 extra jobs in South Australia and an equivalent in training places over the next six years. We have already seen Labor make the same promise in Queensland with premier Bligh throughout the March 2009 campaign. In January this year, she was still some 19,500 jobs short; she has created only 1,500 jobs in 12 months. We know that, historically, normal jobs growth and the forwards estimates would see some 70,000 jobs created in the next six years, so, effectively, the Premier has promised only an extra 5,000 jobs in the next six years. If South Australia had kept pace with national jobs growth, 19,000 more South Australians would be employed today.

Trade is also important, and the Governor made mention of it. Unfortunately, the value of South Australian goods and exports declined under this government by some 23 per cent in the 12 months to March 2010, and it is now worth just $7.9 billion per annum compared with $10.3 billion a year ago. The value of South Australian exports is in freefall, confirming that the Rann government's target to treble the value of South Australia's export income to $25 billion by 2014 is nothing but spin.

In 2001-02, under the state Liberals, annual South Australian goods exports were valued at $9.1 billion. They have declined to $7.9 billion since then, even without adjusting for inflation. Only 9 per cent of South Australian businesses export, the lowest percentage of all mainland states; the national average is 14 per cent. South Australia's car industry has collapsed, with a massive fall of some 84 per cent in car exports in the last 12 months, while wheat and mining exports have also fallen significantly.

The Governor commented on the contribution to exports of the mineral resources sector in the last financial year. The success of investing in mining in South Australia owes no credit to the current Labor government. It has failed to present a plan on how it will meet the needs of mining infrastructure, which is set to double by 2027. In late 2009, the state government submitted its list of infrastructure projects to Infrastructure Australia for funding under the commonwealth program.

The report to the Council of Australian Governments from Infrastructure Australia lists no projects for South Australia relative to infrastructure for the mining industry. In 2008 the Minister for Infrastructure announced that the Spencer Gulf Port Link Consortium was producing a feasibility study for Port Bonython, and it is understood that the study has been provided to the Minister for Infrastructure. The lack of government leadership in regard to delivery of a facility at Port Bonython is staggering in the context of the government's rhetoric on its support for and the potential of our state's mining industry.

The Governor stated that the Labor government will continue to work with BHP towards expansion of Olympic Dam. A Liberal government made sure that the Olympic Dam mine went ahead, despite the alarmist resistance against uranium mining of which, of course, premier Rann was a part. It was interesting to note that this morning treasurer Foley tried to fend that off by saying that he was still at school back then; he even suggested that he may not have been able to spell the word 'uranium' at that age.

The Labor Party must always be held responsible for slowing up exploration. In fact, until recently, because of the Labor Party's three mine policy, in which premier Rann had a significant part, people would not explore in South Australia. We are a uranium-rich state; you will always find traces of uranium, and sometimes quite large quantities of it, but you cannot mine it, so why explore and look for anything else?

The state Labor government embraced the proposal to develop a desalination plant at Point Lowly to the extent that it cancelled a project inherited from the previous Liberal government (including $25 million of funding) to build a desalination plant on Southern Eyre Peninsula, and the people of Eyre Peninsula are still starved of water.

It is pleasing to note that, with the retirement of Liz Penfold, Mr Peter Treloar was elected the member for Flinders, and I am sure he will be championing the cause of water on the West Coast. More recently, the government also walked away from its agreement with BHP Billiton for a jointly developed desalination plant to supply water to Eyre Peninsula, Upper Spencer Gulf and Yorke Peninsula communities.

The Governor mentioned the Tonsley Park precinct and South Australia's supposed leadership in renewable energy investment. Premier Rann's constant claim that South Australia is a leader in renewable energy generation is not true. In the Clean Energy Australia Council's annual Clean Energy Report, South Australia does not lead the nation in renewable energy. In fact, it is fifth in the nation.

For more than two years, Labor has known that the Mitsubishi site would be vacant yet it has done nothing to develop that as another employment hub. It ignored the employment needs of people living in the southern suburbs until just before the election. This is another Rann government policy framed on South Australian Liberal commitments. As far back as February 2008, the South Australian Liberals called for a multipurpose redevelopment to include high-tech jobs for the future.

Like the Mitsubishi site, Port Stanvac is another example of land that has been left vacant because of Labor's complacency and lack of foresight. The plant was mothballed in 2003 and the government refused to release a copy of the 2003 agreement with Mobil, telling us that Mobil had until 2019 to remediate the Port Stanvac site.

Labor's arrogance completely ignored the interests of the community in knowing the details of that deal. The lack of transparency was no doubt a deterrent for potential investors in the fuel market and perhaps has adversely affected the availability and price of petrol in South Australia. Last June, treasurer Foley announced that Mobil would remediate the site within 10 years, and by 2019 it will be 16 years since Mobil wound up its operations.

Members opposite have spoken of transport and the Governor spoke about investment in transport. This ignoring of southern Adelaide also applies to transport. It was only just prior to the election that the government announced the duplication of the Southern Expressway. In fact, minister Hill at a community forum in his own electorate only six days before the announcement said that there would not be a duplication of the Southern Expressway. He said that the government was expanding the rail service to Noarlunga and that there would be no expansion or duplication of the Southern Expressway.

Of course, the government announced it in the election campaign. Premier Rann made the announcement. When asked about whether it was funded or how it was funded, he said that that would be released later in the campaign. Minister Conlon was asked later that day, and he said he was not sure how it would be funded but that treasurer Foley would be handling the money and he would let the community know how it would be funded because in the Mid-Year Budget Review there was no allocation for the Southern Expressway.

Subsequent to that, treasurer Foley, when quizzed on how it was to be funded, said that the $445 million was in unallocated capital in the forward estimates. It beggars belief that you could have $445 million just sitting in a hollow log being unallocated.

It is also interesting to note that the Darlington interchange was announced as part of that project and yet the designs have not been completed. In fact, at a transport conference the week after that was announced, employees from DTEI were telling me that they had no idea what was going to be built and that certainly you could not build that for some $75 million as the Governor mentioned.

The Governor also mentioned the soon-to-be completed Northern Expressway which has come at a blow-out of $264 million over the projected cost of $300 million. Members should be reminded that the South Australian government only paid $125 million for the project and that it was the former Liberal federal government that provided some $424 million of funding.

In October, the government announced the South Road Superway project, and this is an interesting project. If members recall, it was announced on a Thursday—in fact the first sitting week of parliament after the Premier had had a little altercation with a gentleman with a Winestate magazine at the wine centre. It is my belief and the opposition's belief that this project was announced to give the government a good headline at the end of a potentially bad week.

The project manager was asleep in Europe when it was announced and, when he was rung, he had no idea that it was being announced and he assumed that this was the project. Then minister Atkinson said on radio (I think it was 891) that he did not know that it was being announced until he heard it on the radio.

That brought me to question whether it really went through cabinet. It is an $850 million project. You would think that a project of that size would go through cabinet before it was announced. We asked that question in the other place and treasurer Foley said that then minister Atkinson was probably at the toilet when we discussed it. Most of us spend a penny when we are at the toilet but obviously Michael Atkinson spends some $850 million. It is a fair stint at a toilet if you can spend $850 million while you are in there.

What actually happened, remembering that this was announced in October, is that when the project went to the Public Works Committee, it was revealed that it did not go to cabinet until 14 December. I have to ask the question: did treasurer Foley mislead parliament when he said that Michael Atkinson was at the toilet when it went through cabinet? It brings into question the style of government that we have had for the last eight years and what we are likely to get in the future.

This typifies the government's ad hoc approach. The industry proponents, while they say it is a good project, say that it was not a priority project. There are other more important parts of South Road that need attention, but clearly this is a project that was announced to take the heat off the government and create a good headline to save the Premier's bacon. Labor has no long-term plan to create a north-south corridor to fix our roads. We still have a $200 million backlog in road maintenance and there is simply no plan from this government to address it.

The 30-year plan was also mentioned by the Governor. Labor has no long-term plan for supporting population growth. Contrary to building vibrant, inclusive communities, the 30-year plan for Adelaide shows that the government has not prepared the adequate infrastructure to support growing populations, nor has it considered viable alternatives for growth areas. There is no doubt that Adelaide needs a notional plan, incorporating key directions that can be altered in the face of radical changes. Any plan as far-reaching as 30 years must be flexible. This document appears to be far too rigid.

Adjustments and reviews included in the plan focus on the speed and pace of implementation rather than identifying necessary changes where they are needed. There is a focus on activities which will feed off the transit-oriented developments but no short-term plans for development of TODs.

The raft of targets relating to infrastructure, population growth and housing are primarily centred on TODs and, without definitive plans for those centres, the rest of the plan falls flat. It is interesting to note that the government is still talking about the Clipsal site. We saw the fiasco with the St Clair site where the community was hoodwinked as to exactly what was happening and they are speaking of a TOD at Noarlunga.

The opposition supports TODs, and we call on the government to develop the one at Bowden (the Clipsal site) as a demonstration site. The government is trying to force TODs on communities across the state and in the metropolitan area and, if the government gets it wrong, it will be a disaster.

The minister has also mentioned that infrastructure will be rolled out as development proceeds. For the scope of developments we are looking at, the future infrastructure costs will be massive. A major development is also planned for Roseworthy. The Department of Planning and Local Government says that these developments will be sustainable and has made the assurance that new residents will not rely on Gawler's existing infrastructure. However, you should look at Roseworthy, Mr President. Statistically, it is one of the hottest places in South Australia. Research identifies that peak electricity demand occurs in the summer, and the demand can be predicted to some degree by using maximum daily temperatures.

So, one would have to question the 30-year plan. How, then, does creating one of our major growth areas in the hottest part of the state make sense from a sustainability perspective? It will be more expensive for people to cool their homes, hotter for children to play outside, hotter to take a walk or to ride a bike, and hotter to walk to public transport. I think this is something the government has not thought about. It flies in the face of the government's claim that it is a leader in renewable energy, when it talks about locating suburbs in what is often one of the hottest places in the state. Buckland Park is another commuter suburb which is miles away from major services and employment. It is situated on a flood plain, not far from the composting facility, and it has no direct public transport.

The Governor finished his address by affirming Labor's law and order priority. The state Labor government should be condemned for its failure to stem the spiralling violent crime plaguing our community. Premier Rann has failed in relation to the 2002 contract on law and order he made with the people of South Australia, when he said that the government would be tough on crime and serious about treating its causes.

The ABS statistics show that between 2002 and 2008 homicide and related offences increased by 22.6 per cent and that armed robbery is up 10.4 per cent and assault has increased. In 2008-09, some 22,668 people became victims of offences against the person.

Community complaints regarding the visibility of police and response times are becoming more frequent, and it is clear that many of these officers are behind desks undertaking administrative duties instead of patrolling our neighbourhoods.

The Hon. P. Holloway interjecting:

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: The minister interjects that we have 1,000 more police. Well, where are they? If you go out on the street and talk to the community, no-one knows where they are. Under the Rann government there has not been an improvement in the number of police provided in the city on a permanent basis. While special operations have been successful, they serve only as proof that a permanent solution is necessary. Of course, the summer contingent is now missing from Hindley Street. Two weekends ago, it was a disaster zone again because police officer numbers were at an all-time low.

State Labor has failed to adequately provide our police with the resources they need to do their job. The Rann government's—and the commissioner's—policy on Tasers is simply a joke. South Australian police officers are confronted with extremely agitated and aggressive people, who are a threat. Having a Taser gun in the boot of a car that is not in the immediate vicinity of a volatile incident is of no use to police who are confronted with a potentially explosive and violent situation. The state Labor government refuses the challenge in relation to integrity and it is still resisting the establishment of an ICAC, despite the successful adoption of this policy by other states.

It is clear that this government has no mandate for government. It did not win 50 per cent plus one of the popular vote. Over the next four years, it will be a pleasure to demonstrate to the South Australian people how they have been conned by this government yet again.

The PRESIDENT: I call the Hon. Ms Lee. I remind honourable members that this is Ms Lee's first speech in the council, and I direct that they will show the usual courtesy that is shown to those making their first speech.

The Hon. J.S. LEE (16:50): Thank you, Mr President. I support the motion for the adoption of the Address in Reply to His Excellency's speech when opening this session of the 52nd parliament. The Governor is well respected by all and has the affection of all in this chamber and the people of South Australia. I also acknowledge that we meet on Kaurna land, and I pay my respects and extend my thanks to the traditional owners.

I cannot help but be overwhelmed by the vibrant red colour of this chamber as I rise to speak for the first time. To me, the red colour not only represents the power that people bestow upon us but symbolises the passion all South Australians have for this wonderful state.

I remember the quote from the famous Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu, who said, 'A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.' By taking my first step into this chamber, I am aware that when I speak my voice is not just my own; I represent the voice of all South Australians. It is a privileged role and a great responsibility. It is an incredible honour to be elected to the South Australian parliament. To have a seat in this great chamber did not come easily. It is a great privilege to be elected by people who believe in me, and I thank them for their faith in me. I come to this chamber with a strong commitment to the present and investment for the future. I intend to use my skills and knowledge to advocate for the people of South Australia and to represent them in this parliament.

I stand here today representing a wonderfully diverse community that offers ideas and opinions on how we can do things better. I am humbled that many fellow South Australians regard me as the new voice for multiculturalism. More than 100 of my friends and supporters from the multicultural community lined up on the steps of Parliament House this morning (some of them are in the gallery) to pass on their congratulations to me. It was a heart-warming gesture and a humbling experience. I am moved by their love and support. Even more special is that they brought along two colourful and vibrant Chinese lions for this auspicious occasion. The lucky lions will bring prosperity, good fortune and good governance to the parliament.

Indeed, I am very honoured to be supported by the multicultural community in South Australia. I intend to represent all those within South Australia, regardless of their age, race or gender, where they come from or where they live. I strongly believe that in order for parliament to function effectively it needs to comprise a broad range of members that bring with them vast experience and backgrounds. On this note, I acknowledge all the members in this chamber and especially welcome the Hons Kelly Vincent and Tammy Jennings.

In 1894 South Australia became the first state in Australia to grant women the right to vote and the first place in the world to grant women the right to stand for parliament. South Australia set a precedent that played an important part in making Australia in 1902 the first country in the world at a federal level where women had the dual right to vote and to stand for election.

With this historical fact in mind, I must say it is incredibly pleasing that three new members of the Legislative Council are women. It is not because we are trying to gang up or anything, but it is the fact that I believe each one of us got here in our own right. We got here based on what we can contribute and what we believe in, not because we are women.

During my preselection I was very aware that Liberal Party members do not choose their candidates based on a quota system. Instead, we choose the best people we believe can do the job. If it happens to be a woman, then she is given equal opportunity and the full support of the party. Leading examples are Isobel Redmond, Leader of the Opposition (who is in the gallery), and the Hon. Michelle Lensink, deputy leader in the Legislative Council.

Of course, I personally will miss two wonderful women members who retired at the 2010 election. They were both from the country. I pay tribute to Liz Penfold, who has been a strong local voice as the member for Flinders, and the Hon. Caroline Schaefer, who has been an outstanding legislative councillor with a strong agricultural and farming background. Among her many political achievements, she was also a former minister for primary industries.

I have great admiration for both Caroline and Liz. I most admire their commitment to serve country people and their knowledge about country regions. My regret is that I will not have the chance to work with them in parliament, but I know that I can pick up the phone at any time to call them and they will respond. It is the way they are: politics and a sense of community will always be in their blood.

At this point I also acknowledge another retiring member, the Hon. Robert Lawson QC—a gentleman well respected for his intellect and wisdom. Robert held numerous ministerial positions during his term of parliament and was an important part of the Liberal team. I take this opportunity to thank the retiring members for their remarkable contribution to the parliament and the state. I always feel that retirement is just a fancy word for people wanting to take time off. I am sure each of them will enjoy a brand-new life after politics.

With the assistance of the helpful staff in the Parliamentary Library, I searched through the archive to find that I am the first Malaysian born Chinese to enter the South Australian parliament. I believe I am currently the only Asian member here who can speak at least two Asian languages, namely, Bahasa Malaysia and Chinese (in a number of dialects).

I am glad my parents had the foresight to send me to a Chinese school to receive my primary education. That decision helped me years later to pave my career in international trade. My Chinese language skills have become a great advantage for doing business in Asia, recognising that Chinese is a key language for communication for many of Australia's top trading partners, such as China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan, just to name a few.

When I finished my primary education in Malaysia, my family migrated to Adelaide in 1979. I could not speak much English when I first arrived, so I ended up in a language centre designed for migrant children who had little or no English language skills. I ended up mixing with many Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees. I am pleased to say that a number of them remain friends today.

I spent only about two to three months in the language centre. I was a keen learner. My teacher wanted to see me integrate and adapt to the Australian way of life, so I was transferred to a mainstream school. By then my family had moved to Payneham, and the nearest public school close to my home was Marden high school. My first two months at high school were horrible. I was the only Asian kid there, unlike at the language centre where just about everyone looked like me and talked like me and I fitted in comfortably. It was the total opposite at Marden high school. I was a complete outsider. I looked very different from the other kids. I was given many shocking nicknames, and my life was miserable. Racial abuse and bullying at school was commonplace. I was too scared to talk to anyone. I always sat in silence. No-one really knew I existed.

Then I had a fight with a classmate who took the biscuits that I had baked in a home economics class. I threw the cookie tray onto the floor. I shocked everyone, including myself. I was sent to the detention room straightaway without question. At first I was angry and so scared that I could not speak. Finally, I sucked in all the oxygen I could possibly consume and spoke loudly for the first time. I questioned the teacher about her decision and explained my action.

Unfortunately, the teacher thought I was still the troublemaker, so I had to stay behind after school. You can just imagine how upset my father was when the teacher explained to him that his quiet and demure daughter had behaved badly. Two good things came out of that unfortunate incident. At home, my father discovered that deep down his little girl was not as weak and fragile as she appeared. This little girl was quite capable of defending herself.

The next day, when I walked into the schoolyard, I had fellow students giving me nods along the way. Some came up and hit me on the shoulder and said, 'Good on ya, mate,' and I started to make friends from that day onwards. Now, who would have thought that one bad incident would become a positive turning point in my teenage life? From that moment on I was no longer afraid to go to school. I finally found my voice, and I have learned to use it to fight injustice ever since. It is from my teenage experience that I have developed zero tolerance to racism.

I believe that, although many of us are born in other countries, our commitment to Australia is in no way lessened. I am a very proud Australian. I have chosen to take an active role in the whole community. This meant not only accepting cultural diversity but also respecting and recognising the positive value of diversity. I believe that diversity enriches our community in so many aspects of our lives. I have been actively involved in the Chinese Asian community for more than 20 years.

So many intelligent and generous people in the community have mentored me over the years. My parents, uncles and aunties in the community always give me the most amazing wisdoms. One that has clearly stuck with me is: nothing is impossible in this world if one has a willing heart. The other is: if you have a talent, you must use it to benefit others and to bring joy to the world. I have made friends with so many community minded individuals and organisations that I cannot help but be constantly impressed and inspired by their tireless efforts.

Year after year without fail they volunteer their time and effort to stage festivals and charity events that showcase their proud cultures and traditions. They continue to share their arts and crafts, music and dance, and food and experiences with mainstream Australian society. I thank all the valuable contributions made by our wonderfully diverse community. I have a special interest in the development of a strong multicultural society in South Australia. It is my aim to work with all my colleagues in parliament to ensure that we continue to develop sound policies and to encourage everyone to participate and to contribute equally and productively in making South Australia a richer and more dynamic place in which to live.

I am a proud Liberal and have lived the Liberal way all my life. Liberals believe in equality of opportunity, with all Australians having the opportunity to reach their full potential in a nationally tolerant community. Liberals believe in the innate worth of an individual, in their right to be independent, to own property and to achieve, and in the need to encourage initiative and personal responsibility. My Liberal values were developed from a young age. I was never afraid of hard work. I believe in the right to be independent, so I started part-time work at the age of 15 in a Chinese restaurant.

I was proud of the fact that I was always self-reliant and never had to ask my father for pocket money. I continued working part time whilst studying because I believe in taking personal responsibility to reach my full potential. After high school, I studied business administrative management at the South Australian College of Advanced Education, which is now called the University of South Australia.

My first full-time job was with the South Australian Tourism Commission (SATC), where I joined the team which started the first South Australian Shorts holiday campaign. It was a highly successful intrastate tourism campaign. During that time I visited just about all the tourist destinations, as well as motels, hotels, homestead, and bed and breakfast facilities in our state. It made me appreciate the beauty and diversity of our great land, and all the breathtaking sites of South Australia's many natural wonders.

It was through my tourism experience that I learnt a great deal about the state, not only from a tourism perspective but also about the related industries and commercial activities surrounding the various regions that make South Australia productive and special. Whilst working for the South Australian Tourism Commission I met many overseas tourists and was motivated by them to venture out to see the world. My family and friends in Malaysia planted the seed that I should look at job opportunities in the Asia Pacific region. So, after three years with the SATC, I was offered a fantastic job in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

In my early 20s I became the youngest general manager of a business centre that helped multinationals set up their regional base in Asia. My job entailed helping multinational companies set up their regional operation, the relocation of staff and families and assisting major projects and commercial contracts. The private company I worked for has offices in Singapore, Hong Kong and China, so I travelled regularly to those countries. I built up significant networks and connections from major corporate sectors in the Asia Pacific region, and, of course, a passion for international trade.

I returned to Adelaide in 1997 after being away for almost six years. Upon my return, I joined the Economic Development Authority. Those who have been around long enough would know that this department has had a few name changes since. I was based at the Business Centre, helping small to medium-size businesses with continuous improvements and growth strategy. Being a very practical business person, I was able to work with business owners across a wide range of industries and address key issues faced by small business. I built very strong working relationships with industries, and I am proud of the fact that I was able to assist them in getting export dollars and to facilitate trade and investment important for South Australia.

Unlike many current and past members of parliament, where they come from a succession of political families, I am the first in my family to pursue a political career. Who would have thought a Chinese migrant with a humbling beginning and who could hardly converse in English some 30 years ago could end up being a member of parliament? It was Martin Hamilton-Smith who first asked me to run for parliament (I think he is in the gallery), and I thank Martin for his encouragement.

I was very reluctant about nominating to run as a candidate because politics was not something I had considered as a desirable career choice. However, South Australia has given me everything I could have hoped for. It has given me equal opportunity in education, it has given me freedom and it has shaped the person I am today. Ultimately, the driving force for me to enter parliament was the desire to serve the people of South Australia and to further contribute to the wellbeing of the community. Like others, I believe I can make a difference.

Furthermore, I believe in the Australian democracy and in our political process. As a Liberal I uphold the belief in the most basic freedoms of parliamentary democracy: the freedom of thought, worship, speech and association.

Many people have repeatedly expressed how they have lost faith in politics and they no longer have confidence in the accuracy of information they are given by political leaders. Therefore, it is important for us to maintain the integrity of our political system. I believe that politics and the parliamentary process have the power to change people's lives for the better. This process will involve seeking out views and engaging with constituents and never taking anyone or anything for granted.

We learnt from the 2010 election that the electorate can send the government a loud and clear message on polling day. The 2010 election produced a massive swing towards the Liberals under the strong leadership of Isobel Redmond. In a tight election, anyone who thinks they alone can get themselves elected without substantial good policies backing them, the support of the Liberal team and the strong approval rating of the leader would be naive.

Isobel Redmond's fresh approach, together with her capacity to understand complex issues and her ability to engage with the constituents, helped the Liberals perform better than expected. It helped us to win three key seats from Labor. My heartfelt congratulations to Rachel Sanderson (member for Adelaide), Steven Marshall (member for Norwood) and John Gardner (member for Morialta). We retained two important country seats, where we welcome Peter Treloar, the new member for Flinders, replacing the longstanding and popular local MP, Liz Penfold; and Dan van Holst Pellekaan (I have the shortest name in the parliament and I think he has the longest), the new member for Stuart, replacing one of the longest-serving MPs in our state, Graham Gunn, who spent 39 years in parliament—what a record!

In addition, Tim Whetstone achieved a stunning victory in the Riverland region and took over from Karlene Maywald as the new member for Chaffey. It is a pleasure to know and work with these six outstanding new House of Assembly members over the long enduring campaign period. I have seen what they are capable of and I know they will do extremely well representing their electorates and serving this parliament in years to come.

At this point, I would like to acknowledge some unsung heroes because it saddened me that many of our top candidates were not able to join us in parliament. We are incredibly proud of their hard work and great contribution to the Liberal Party.

Like more than 52 per cent of the voters in South Australia, I am devastated about the election result. I am disappointed that we cannot form a Redmond Liberal government to truly deliver results that people have cried out for. People have told me that they want a better statewide health system to include country hospitals and keeping the Royal Adelaide Hospital on its existing site.

People told me that they wanted good education for their children and grandchildren. Good education does not mean just having new, bigger super schools. People told me that they wanted to feel safe in their streets, in their homes and when they travel around South Australia. How can they feel safe when the crime rate is on the increase; how can they feel safe when there are so many irresponsible hoon drivers out there; and how can they feel safe when roads in some regional areas are so horrendous?

I am aware that road congestion in the city and in many suburbs has been causing headaches in people's daily lives and also increasing the cost of doing business. It is getting harder and harder for people to commute from home to work, to take kids to school, to transport their goods and delivery services on time. As a state and an economy we can no longer afford to be without a long-term plan for transport infrastructure. As time goes by, this lack of vision by the Labor government will continue to translate into more road fatalities, alienated communities, uncompetitive trade and hold back tourism.

South Australia's share of the national economic cake has continued to decline during the eight years of the Rann Labor government. Our share of the national economy has declined from 6.8 per cent in 2002 to 6.5 per cent now. This decline is reflected in economic growth, business investment, export values, population growth and below average weekly earnings. Economic progress has been more extensive in other states.

I have seen many smart and innovative enterprises doing a remarkable job keeping the economy ticking and creating jobs for South Australians. Government does not create jobs: private industry does. There is no reason why our state cannot be competitive with other states as a preferred place to do business, a place to live in and a place to bring up children. South Australia can be and should aim to be the destination of choice for businesses large and small, for the young and able, and for families. That is not currently the case.

We have an ageing population and we are losing young people to interstate and overseas. We must act now to ensure that our young people receive appropriate education and training to allow them to gain meaningful employment. Young people must be empowered to consider South Australia as a place for them to live, work and play, and be given the choices to contribute to the economy and for their wellbeing.

The needs of individuals, families and communities are dramatically changing. Are we ready to respond to these changing needs? The Liberals believe in a just and humane society where those who cannot provide for themselves can live in dignity. South Australia needs a government with strong leadership that is capable of developing good policies to meet the aspirations of individuals in our society. Governments should not design a one-size-fits all solution that does not fulfil the needs of families and communities. The success of minor parties and independents in the Legislative Council demonstrates that the electorate did not re-elect the government with great enthusiasm. As the Legislative Council is the house of review, on behalf of the people of South Australia I look forward to holding the government accountable.

If life is a wheel of fortune, then my greatest fortune is to be surrounded by supportive family and friends throughout my life. They walk with me, talk with me, laugh with me, debate with me to make me stay focused on what is important in life, and help me to put things into perspective. These important people in my life instil in me the sense of compassion of helping others in the community and the courage to chase my dreams.

I will take a moment to reflect on a story told by my father. It is a story about a tree—Mark Parnell might enjoy this one! Like many fathers, he was very protective of his daughter. My father said that a small tree needs to be looked after every day for it to grow big. Once it becomes big, its responsibility is to provide shelter and protection to the many small plants and species growing beneath it.

If you are lucky enough to grow into a big tree, you must endure strong winds and lightning but also enjoy the glory of the sun during the day and the soft embrace of the moon and stars at night. I am aware that now I am considered a big tree because I have been given the responsibility and privilege of protecting and nurturing the people of South Australia in parliament.

I thank my wonderful family: my mum and dad, my two brothers and their partners, my nephew, my in-laws, my three stepchildren and their partners, and a very gorgeous granddaughter, and, of course, my soul mate, Eddie Liew. His determination and patience to see me succeed have been nothing short of remarkable. He gives me the strength to always look ahead and move forward. Eddie kept my personal and professional life on track at all times. Without him in my life, the long and winding road of getting to this place would have been even more challenging, so thank you again and again and again.

I have also been extremely lucky to have many incredible friends who have invested both time and finances to help me get here. Just about everyone was on the steps of Parliament House earlier to personally pass on their congratulations to me in delivering my maiden speech. I extend my deepest gratitude to all my dearest friends, community leaders, the Chinese media companies and many more who have shared my journey. Their love and support helped me get through the crazy world of an election campaign and politics. There is no way I could possibly repay them for their generosity and kindness, but I hope to be able to repay some of it by virtue of hard work and full commitment and doing my job well in parliament.

It is my good fortune that I have enormous support from the leader, Isobel Redmond, and the rest of the parliamentary team, party headquarters and supporters of the Liberal Party, including Alexander Downer, Sean Edwards and many others during my campaign. Any time I asked someone for help, it was given willingly and beyond my expectations. Thank you, everyone.

To my colleagues in the Legislative Council—the leader, the Hon. David Ridgway, and the Hons Michelle Lensink, Rob Lucas, Stephen Wade, Terry Stephens and John Dawkins—I thank you for your ongoing wisdom, guidance and friendship throughout my campaign and when I got into parliament. I know that you will continue to be my trusted friends, and it will be a great privilege to work side by side with you in years to come.

I am clear about why I am here: it is because I believe in and love South Australia. I believe we can get the right balance between the economy and the environment. We can improve the social structure of our state, reaching out to those who need extra help and delivering better health, education and infrastructure for South Australia.

We are living in interesting times, and I am excited by the prospect of using my skills and community service to work with you to shape the future of South Australia. My aim is to spend my time here working hard to make South Australia a better place for all of us. So, to all my fellow legislative councillors, thank you very much for your welcome and encouragement. I really look forward to working with you in delivering the best outcomes for South Australia.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

The Hon. M. PARNELL (17:20): The Greens are pleased to support the adoption of the Address in Reply. I acknowledge, as did His Excellency, that we meet on the traditional lands of the Kaurna people. I also thank Uncle Lewis O'Brien for his welcome to country at the opening of parliament. I offer my congratulations to new members: the Hon. Jing Lee, who just made her inaugural speech; and the Hons Kelly Vincent and Tammy Jennings, who we will hear from in the next few days. Mr President, I congratulate you on the continuation of your important role and the impartial chairing you provide to our proceedings here.

The election on 20 March saw the Rann Labor government re-elected for a third term. It also saw the Greens double its representation and, on behalf of the Greens I can promise double the scrutiny in this chamber for measures the government seeks to impose on the people of South Australia. We know the electoral system is imperfect. The government was very lucky to be re-elected, having gained less than 50 per cent of the statewide vote. We need electoral law reform, we need the system to be more democratic, we need to put more power back into the hands of voters, rather than parties, and we need fewer opportunities for dirty tricks.

How to describe the government's third term agenda? The simplest way for me to describe it, having listened intently to the Governor's speech, is to use the term 'same same, not different': more of the same—the same lack of imagination, the same lack of reforming zeal, but, most frighteningly, the same lack of appreciation of our state's woeful preparedness for future economic shocks, particularly those associated with climate change and peak oil, and I will come back to these shortly. If you search for the phrase 'same same not different' on the internet you will come across the SameSame.com.au website, which is a website dealing with same-sex issues. This brings me to a topic on which there is still a great deal of unfinished business—that is, the legal recognition afforded to same-sex couples and their children.

One of the initiatives that the Greens will be introducing this term is to reform the laws that cover same-sex parentage. The Greens will move to amend legislation to give legal certainty and recognition to same-sex co-parents. Currently, under state law one parent is not given any status as the parent of a child although I note that under recent federal changes they will now be liable to child support should that couple break up. In other words, they could be obliged to pay child maintenance, but under state law they will have no legal recognition as a parent of the child, even if the other parent has died. It is the child who is missing protections here. The unrecognised parent may be left without the ability to undertake school permissions or medical consents. In the case of a death or a relationship breakdown, the child may miss out on inheritances, contact and custody with that parent who has cared for them since birth.

In his speech the Governor highlighted the government's alleged commitment to ensuring that the benefits of the state's growing prosperity are shared by all. If that is the case, why on earth is the Treasurer lobbying on behalf of BHP Billiton to reduce the amount that the company needs to return to the community when it makes super profits from its mining operations? Whilst expressing support for the tax, the Treasurer is doing his best to undermine the government's ability to ensure that the community and future generations benefit from the exploitation of our finite resources. He is happy for the huge multinational mining companies to pay less tax and expatriate more profits overseas.

The Treasurer is supposed to be negotiating with the company over the Olympic Dam expansion, but he has exposed his poker hand already. On ABC radio this morning he said:

The point is, guys, that Olympic Dam must go ahead. We don't have the luxury of debating that issue from the government's point of view; it is a must happen project for the state…

This statement—which, no doubt, has been repeated in private to BHP Billiton—massively weakens our state's bargaining position on the Olympic Dam expansion because the Treasurer is effectively saying to the company that the government will not insist on the company changing its plans on anything it says is non-negotiable. That is remarkable.

Members will recall that we are in the middle of the environmental impact statement process for the Olympic Dam expansion—a process which attracted 4,000 public submissions, including from the state government's own agencies and experts. Many of these submissions were highly critical of major aspects of the project, including the location of the desalination plant, the sky-high carbon emissions, and the management of the radioactive tailings dam and waste rock pile. These are things that the government needs to insist that BHP Billiton improves before the government gives approval to expand the mine.

The government's job is to attach enforceable conditions as a precondition of approval. However, by so openly exposing his bargaining bottom line, the Treasurer has hamstrung his government's ability to secure the best outcomes for South Australia. The next time that the Treasurer attends a late-night karaoke bar to offer a rendition of Kenny Rogers' The Gambler, he needs to pay attention to the words he is singing; he needs to 'know when to hold 'em'.

Whilst on the topic of mining, I look forward to debating the government's amending bill introduced today. The Greens will be very carefully looking at the economic and social impact of the bill as well as the impacts on the environment. In particular, the Greens will look at the impact on our state's farmers, and will move amendments to ensure that our farmers get a fair go in their dealings with mining companies. At present it is not a level playing field; the miners always win and our farmers are being short-changed.

This is not always the case interstate. Recently the New South Wales Supreme Court handed down a decision favouring farmers over coalminers at Caroona, near Gunnedah. Remarkably, the New South Wales state government's response was to introduce special retrospective legislation to overturn the judgment and ensure that the coalminers win. That will be debated this week in the New South Wales parliament. Government members here should know that the farming community in South Australia will not stand to be treated this way. All they are looking for is a fair go and, if the government will not do it, the Greens will.

In his speech the Governor said, in relation to the government's agenda, that 'it has committed itself to reconnecting and re-engaging with the state through ongoing consultation, and by listening to South Australia's concerns and aspirations'. That statement must be cold comfort to the people of Cheltenham, St Clair and any number of other local communities who have found the door closed to any meaningful engagement in any of the decisions that so critically affect their neighbourhoods and their quality of life.

Over the last four years the government has diminished opportunities for communities to engage in public participation, particularly in the vital area of planning. Consultation over the 30-year plan was appalling, ministerial rezonings at the behest of the government's developer mates have been foisted on local communities with no attempt to consult local people, and the residential code now means that fewer and fewer development applications are being notified to neighbours and even fewer advertised for public comment.

If the government wants people to believe it then it must do more than simply promise to do better in the future. It must also undo some of the anti-democratic initiatives it has rolled out over the last eight years. The Greens will not neglect local communities, and we will introduce a range of reforms to various pieces of legislation enshrining the rights of people to participate in decision-making that affects them.

In the area of health, the Governor referred to the government's commitment to additional resources to be 'directed to services in highest demand, including community-based support for young people with a mental illness, and to aged care places in nursing homes'. In relation to mental health, the Greens are keen to see that the government follows through on its commitment to make mental health a priority, a commitment that was made by the Premier during the election campaign and also in the Governor's opening speech.

The commitment to addressing mental health must have a focus on recovery and on helping people to stay well or live well and manage mental illness. It must also address the stigma that many associate with mental illness, and change our culture so that people are not ashamed to seek help early. The government has taken some positive steps in this regard, and I point to the fact that we are now halfway through the Social Inclusion Unit's 'Stepping Up' report, and we hope to see the recommendations in the areas of adequate housing with appropriate supports to attain and manage a tenancy as well as in the forensic arena—keeping people with a mental illness away from unnecessary and expensive contact with the criminal justice system.

We welcome the introduction of the new Mental Health Act to take effect on 1 July but we will be moving the repeal of the harbouring provisions of the Mental Health Act, and we hope that the government will again support this. We should never be criminalising those with mental illness, those who care for them or those from whom people seek refuge.

In the field of energy and climate change, the government continues to pat itself on the back for things that it can take no credit for. Renewable energy investment in this state is driven by the policies of other states and the commonwealth. We are just lucky that the wind and the hot rocks happen to be within our borders.

The real test of the government's commitment to reducing carbon emissions is how well it is performing in relation to the things it can control. The government has been particularly slack in meeting its obligations under the state's own climate change legislation. The government was supposed to lead by example and enter sector agreements with its own agencies as a matter of priority. Years after the due date, we still have only a handful of sector agreements and only one, to my knowledge, with a government agency.

Instead, we got commitments to a carbon-neutral cabinet and then, when that idea went down a treat, we had a commitment to a carbon-neutral government. That latter commitment was a joke, and clearly the government had no intention of meeting that commitment even if it knew what it meant.

Why did the Premier not make as much fuss when he axed the carbon-neutral government program in the Mid-Year Budget Review at the end of 2008 as he made when launching it? The problem is that he forgot that he had axed it. He was continuing to spin the commitment to a carbon-neutral government after it had been axed and needed to receive a memo from the department reminding him to stop talking about it because all funding to that program had been cut.

By the way, we also know now that the mini wind turbines that the government made such a fuss about on the roof of the State Administration Centre and elsewhere did not even work. Not one light globe was ever powered by those mini wind turbines.

In relation to peak oil, I acknowledge the contribution that our former colleague the Hon. Sandra Kanck made to that debate. She put it on the agenda but still the government is woefully unprepared for any future in this state that involves less oil or more expensive oil. There is no point us wringing our hands and gnashing our teeth when supply goes down and the price goes up: that is not good enough. We need as a state to be prepared for a future of oil scarcity.

In relation to education, the Greens welcome the announcement of provision for schools to focus on children with autism. That is a step in the right direction but there is still much more to be done. In particular, we are concerned about the devaluing of TAFE. TAFE provides opportunities for all Australians to get vital skills, to learn a trade or to change careers and to rise above economic or social disadvantage, yet it is a system that is systematically being starved of funding. The consequence of failing to fund adequately our TAFE system will be seen in the critical national skills shortage and it will be seen in the thousands of people who miss out on training and education, and the consequences for our state are dire.

Our schools and our teachers need better treatment from this next term of government. The South Australian public school students deserve smaller classes. We know that the educational outcomes for children are better in smaller classes, but we are often, as a state, penny wise and pound foolish when it comes to investing in quality education that is such a vital part of investing in the future of the state. I would also say that we should fund the education system ourselves. We do not need to be beholden to the armaments industry to provide our kids with the facilities that they need to learn. We do not need the world's biggest guided missile maker embedded in our classrooms.

In conclusion, the Greens are looking forward to working with all parties and members of the Legislative Council. We will work with the government, we will work with the Liberal opposition and we will work with our crossbench colleagues. Our commitment is to focus on the merits of issues. If bills and motions are deserving of support, the Greens will support them. If they are not worthy of support, then we will not. The approach that we will take in this term is as in the last—to be cooperative but not to be taken advantage of by other parties, particularly big parties. With that note, the Greens are very pleased to support the motion for the adoption of the Address in Reply.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. B.V. Finnigan.

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