The Hon. J.S. LEE (22:35): 

I rise today to support the Road Traffic (Penalties for Certain Offences with Child in Vehicle) Amendment Bill 2024. This bill aims to address a critical issue affecting the safety of children: the proposed amendment to the Road Traffic Act to increase penalties for offences committed with a child under the age of 16 in the vehicle. I thank the Hon. Frank Pangallo for introducing this bill.

The Hon. J.S. LEE (22:11): 

I rise to speak on the Residential Tenancies (Rent Freeze) Amendment Bill 2024. While the bill by the Hon. Robert Simms is well intentioned, aiming to provide relief to renters facing escalating costs, I indicate that I will not be supporting the bill.

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. C. Bonaros:

That this council—

1. Recognises the final report commissioned by the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist on 'Unmet mental health service need in South Australia that could be met by the NGO sector' (Unmet Needs report), dated February 2023.

2. Acknowledges the findings and recommendations of the Unmet Needs report, including:

    (a) 19,000 South Australians with severe mental illness require psychosocial support services each year but are not having their needs met;

    (b) an estimated $125 million per annum is required to address the shortfall; and

    (c) addressing the unmet needs in the South Australian mental health system would significantly reduce the demand for hospital-based emergency services related to mental distress and lead to reduced ramping and wait times.

3. Recognises the 19,000 South Australians identified in the Unmet Needs report represent a substantial increase compared to the Productivity Commission’s estimated 11,000 South Australians in 2020, highlighting the results of years of mental health policy failure from successive governments.

4. Notes the 2023-24 state budget provided no additional investment in psychosocial support, with the state government indicating it was awaiting the findings of the Unmet Needs report before making any decisions.

5. Notes the 2024-25 state budget similarly did not provide the necessary increase in funding towards psychosocial support.

6. Notes there has been no formal state government response to the findings and recommendations of the Unmet Needs report.

7. Calls on the Malinauskas Labor government to provide a formal response to the findings and recommendations of the Unmet Needs report by no later than 1 September 2024.

The Hon. J.S. LEE (21:42): 

I move:

That this council—

1. Congratulates the South Australian Bangladeshi Community Association (SABCA) for celebrating its 20^th anniversary in 2024;

2. Notes that SABCA was established in 2004 and is the largest community organisation for Australians with Bangladeshi heritage and Bangladeshis in South Australia;

3. Acknowledges the important work of founding members, current and past presidents, committee members and volunteers of SABCA for their hard work, dedication and contributions in delivering 20 years of outstanding community service in South Australia;

4. Commends SABCA for their essential role to organise cultural and social events and also to provide information and practical assistance, such as airport welcome services, accommodation assistance and information seminars to new Bangladeshi migrants, permanent or temporary residents, international students, humanitarian visa holders and working visa holders;

5. Recognises SABCA's Bangladeshi Community School is a member of Community Language Schools SA with two campuses (namely Goodwood and Elizabeth) and commends the school principals and teachers for providing educational support to South Australian Bangladeshi children to learn Bangla language and promote cultural development; and

6. Commends SABCA for their commitment to developing awareness of Bangladeshi culture, language, tradition and lifestyle among the wider community to build an inclusive and harmonious multicultural South Australian society.

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. N.J. Centofanti:

That this council—

1. Recognises the importance of biosecurity to South Australia, in particular with regard to the state’s primary industries, and the potential impact on production.

2. Acknowledges the significant and ongoing concerns from industry sectors regarding Biosecurity SA’s preparedness and response capability.

3. Calls on the Minister for Primary Industries to:

    (a) establish an independent review into the Department of Primary Industry and Regional South Australia’s response to the tomato brown rugose virus incursion, and its capacity and capability to deal with                 future pest and disease incursions; and

    (b) table the report of the review as well as the government’s response upon completion.

The Hon. J.S. LEE (20:55): 

I move:

That this council—

1. Congratulates the Japan Australia Friendship Association for celebrating the milestone 30^th anniversary of the Adelaide Kodomo no Hi Japan Festival in 2025;

2. Notes that Kodomo no Hi, meaning 'Children's Day,' is a Japanese national holiday celebrated on 5 May, dedicated to respecting children's personalities and celebrating their happiness and commends the outstanding Japanese students who were presented with awards for their ATAR at this year's event as part of the festival's commitment to recognising and nurturing young talent;

3. Recognises that the Kodomo no Hi Japan Festival is Adelaide's longest running celebration of Japanese culture, strengthening cultural and social links between Japan and Australia through music, performances, craft, food, and workshops;

4. Acknowledges the President of the Japan Australia Friendship Association, Mr Mike Dunphy, the committee, volunteers and supporters for their dedication and hard work in making the festival a success over the past three decades; and

5. Commends the Japan Australia Friendship Association for its longstanding contributions to supporting the Japanese community, fostering friendship and cultural exchange and for enriching our vibrant and diverse multicultural community in South Australia.

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. C Bonaros:

1. That this council calls on the Attorney-General, within three months of the passing of this motion, to instigate an independent inquiry by the equal opportunity commissioner into the prevalence of harassment, including sexual harassment, in the local government sector in South Australia and to report to the parliament on the following matters:

    (a) The adequacy of existing laws, policies, structures, and complaint mechanisms relating to harassment, including sexual harassment;

    (b) Improvements that may be made to existing laws, policies, structures, and complaint mechanisms relating to harassment, including sexual harassment; and

    (c) any other relevant matters.

2. That the equal opportunity commissioner is appropriately resourced to undertake such an inquiry.

The Hon. J.S. LEE (12:52): 

I rise to speak in support of the Drought Response and Recovery Coordinator Bill 2025. This bill represents a critical step forward in how we respond to and recover from drought in South Australia. As the Hon. Nicola Centofanti outlined in her second reading speech, this bill recognises that drought is not a one-off event; it is a recurring and intensifying challenge that demands a coordinated, strategic and compassionate response. It is not enough to rely on fragmented programs or ad hoc support. We need a framework that brings together government, community and industry in a unified effort and a coordinated approach.

The Hon. J.S. LEE (12:06): 

I move:

That this council—

1. Recognises the growing financial pressure on small and medium-sized businesses, due to compounding statutory costs including payroll tax and WorkCover insurance.

2. Notes that these costs are calculated on total payroll, including superannuation, and are significantly impacted by federally mandated wage increases such as those recently handed down by the Fair Work Commission.

3. Acknowledges that many small businesses are now facing substantial increases in weekly payroll costs, forcing difficult decisions around pricing, staffing, and service delivery.

4. Observes that the current payroll tax framework does not adequately account for the cumulative effect of national wage policy on small business operations.

5. Calls on the government to urgently review the state's payroll tax system, with a view to:

    (a) raising the payroll tax threshold for small businesses;

    (b) introducing temporary relief or exemptions during periods of mandated wage increases.

6. Affirms the need for a fairer, more responsive system that supports both decent wages for workers and the sustainability of small businesses across South Australia.

The Hon. J.S. LEE (11:48):

I rise to speak about the Statutes Amendment (Heritage) Bill 2025 with a measured perspective. This bill represents a significant step towards improving how we manage and protect South Australia's state heritage places, but it is not without its challenges. At its core, the bill seeks to provide greater transparency and public accountability regarding decisions about the demolition of heritage-listed sites. It does this by requiring the South Australian Heritage Council to access any proposed demolition, publish a draft report and invite public submissions before finalising its advice. That final report must then be tabled in parliament.