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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2016-11-29 Daily Xml
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Environment, Water and Natural Resources Department

The Hon. S.G. WADE (15:18): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation with respect to the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: The Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources is one of only 69 White Ribbon accredited workplaces nationwide. As a White Ribbon workplace, DEWNR commits to a whole-of-organisation commitment to stop violence against women and to strengthen the culture of respect at all levels of the organisation. To be accredited, workplaces need to demonstrate effective leadership to these goals. My questions to the minister are:

1. Does the minister support his department's accreditation as a White Ribbon accredited workplace?

2. Did the minister cease to be a White Ribbon Ambassador before or after his department was accredited as a White Ribbon accredited workplace?

3. Does the minister accept that his use of foul language against state and federal ministerial colleagues was a failure of effective leadership of a White Ribbon workplace?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change) (15:19): I thank the honourable member for his important questions. I am indeed very pleased to be a humble servant—

The PRESIDENT: Just one second. Would the honourable member please sit in the gallery.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: Oh, there's a stranger in the house, Mr President. That's what happens when you don't watch out with these lower house members, Mr President, they attempt to usurp our prerogatives in this place.

The PRESIDENT: You are quite welcome to the house, but there is a gallery to sit in. Minister.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: Mr President, I'm sure you weren't speaking on behalf of all of us when you said that he is quite welcome in the house. I am proud to serve as a minister of the Premier and be part of a cabinet that not only takes the issue of domestic violence seriously, but has delivered on a range of initiatives in this very difficult area. I remember that, at last year's White Ribbon Day breakfast in Adelaide, Ms Rosie Batty praised the Premier and the government for our efforts, saying that our policy should be copied by others.

I have spent my whole life campaigning for issues of social justice. It's something I am quite passionate about and have, indeed, spoken about in this place many times. I support the White Ribbon organisation, Mr President, as I know you have and many members in this place have done over the years. I am very pleased to have been a White Ribbon Ambassador between 2009 and 2015. This ambassadorship of course lapsed in 2015, due to administrative issues as well as the changes to the accreditation process.

My department, the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, is a White Ribbon accredited workplace. This accreditation has been embraced by staff across the department. DEWNR's chief executive is the first woman to have led the environment department in this state, I am advised. Ms Pitcher is an incredibly capable leader and someone whom I admire greatly. We have recently appointed the first female director to the Botanic Gardens as well. It may have taken more than 160 years, but that is a particular glass ceiling that has now been cracked, too.

I have, as I have said a number of times today and previously, apologised for my bad choice of words directed to the Deputy Prime Minister in the earshot of other ministers. While my words could have been better chosen, I again reiterate to this chamber that I won't resile from passionately standing up for South Australians, whether it is fighting for the River Murray or fighting for equality. That is something that is built into my DNA. If I am attacked, if my state is attacked, if promises that have been made to South Australians, and promises that are legislated and put into the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, if there is an attempt to rip those away from our state, from the River Murray and all South Australians, you can be assured that I will stand up for South Australia at every opportunity.

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