The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (22:45): I move:

That this Council—

1. Recognises that 2024 will mark the 50th anniversary since the founding of Business Events Adelaide (formerly known as the Adelaide Convention Bureau);
2. Acknowledges Business Events Adelaide is the peak independent body for South Australia’s business events;
3. Notes the significant role that Business Events Adelaide performs in attracting national and international conventions, meetings, exhibitions, corporate incentives, and special events to Adelaide and South Australia;
4. Commends Business Events Adelaide for promoting Adelaide and South Australia as an attractive and preferred destination for business events; and
5. Recognises the impact and contributions of Business Events Adelaide as a successful economic driver and catalyst for growth and prosperity for South Australia.

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. R.A. Simms:

That this Council—

1. Notes that:

a. of the 17.75 billion cigarettes estimated to be consumed in Australia each year, between 30 to 75 per cent end up as litter;

b. cigarette waste makes up to 14 per cent of total waste items found during Clean Up Australia Day;

c. 34 per cent of total litter counted by KESAB is cigarette waste; and

d. at the Conference of Parties (COP10) in February 2024, the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control has resolved to urge signatories to take action on the environmental impact of cigarette waste.

2. Acknowledges that littered cigarette butts:

a. contain cellulose acetate and can take 15 years to break down in seawater;

b. create plastic microfibres as they degrade; and

c. contain over 7,000 chemicals and one butt can contaminate 40 litres of water.

3. Recognises that:

a. Spain has introduced regulations to require tobacco companies to pay for the clean-up of cigarettes;

b. San Francisco collects litter tax from retailers and charges tobacco companies for the cost of cleaning up; and

c. the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority has initiated consultation on cigarette butts through introducing design standards to design out plastic tobacco filters.

4. Calls on the Malinauskas government to:

a. take any possible action to ensure the tobacco industry is accountable for the waste they produce; and

b. raise the matter with the national environment ministers at their next meeting.

(Continued from 15 May 2024.)

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (21:45): I move:

 That this Council—

1. Congratulates the Gawler Agricultural, Horticultural and Floricultural Society, also fondly known as the Gawler Show Society, on achieving its remarkable milestone of 170th anniversary in 2024;
2. Recognises that the Gawler Show Society was first established in 1854 to provide a meeting place for the people of the agricultural district to trade and celebrate the crop, sheep and pastoral strengths of the region and today incorporates educational elements to ensure the history and integrity of agricultural shows is maintained and embraced by future generations;
3. Notes that the Gawler Show is Gawler's key tourism event, attracting more than 30,000 people each year and remains the largest regional show in South Australia;
4. Acknowledges that the Gawler Show Society is an active not-for-profit community-based organisation which reinvested over $75,000 into the local community over the last five years; and
5. Commends the President, Management Committee, Society staff, Patrons, Life Members and hundreds of volunteers for their hard work and dedicated efforts in providing outstanding services and hosting a world-class agriculture and entertainment show each year.

Second Reading Speech

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 5 June 2024.)

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (20:53): I rise today to indicate my support for the Statutes Amendment (Sex Industry—Exit Strategies and Spent Convictions) Bill 2024.

I wish to thank the Hon. Nicola Centofanti for her courage and her passionate and tireless efforts to address prostitution law reform in this place and commend her on bringing this new Bill to the Chamber.

Honourable Members may recall that I spoke in support of the Honourable Member's previous Bill and shared the disappointment with many that it was unsuccessful at the time. But we should never walk away from trying again for law reform that will provide practical support to help empower and protect vulnerable women in our society.

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (15:56): It is my pleasure today to rise to speak about Restaurant & Catering Australia's 2024 Hostplus Awards for Excellence for South Australia held on Monday 23 September 2024.

I had the privilege to attend the Awards for Excellence on Monday evening, joining the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Vincent Tarzia MP, to personally congratulate the award finalists and winners for their achievements, resilience and contributions in the hospitality and dining industry throughout South Australia.

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. R.B. Martin:

That this council—

1. Acknowledges that this year marks the 50th running of the City to Bay race;
2. Commends the City to Bay for promoting good health and the enjoyment of fitness, supporting athletics communities in South Australia and for providing a platform for fundraising activities by race participants; and
3. Recognises the dedicated efforts of City to Bay staff and volunteers in ensuring that the event is successful each year.

(Continued from 11 September 2024.)

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (17:23): I move:

 That this Council–

1. Acknowledges that Australia is a proud multicultural country and our people are from different backgrounds, cultures, languages, faiths and each individual is worthy of dignity and respect, and has a desire to lead meaningful and productive lives;
2. Recognises that the Census helps us understand who we are as a nation and therefore the Australian Census must accurately and comprehensively collect data that represents the pulse of the nation;
3. Recognises that the religious and spiritual profile of Australians remains an important measure for many religious and multicultural communities;
4. Notes that the Australian Bureau of Statistics proposal to make changes for the 2026 Census will weaken the accuracy of one of their measures by changing the Census question about religion;
5. Recognises that accurate, consistent measure and comparable data is vital as churches, temples, mosques and religious groups rely heavily on the data to assist parishes, places of worship, schools, health services, welfare, aged-care facilities and other organisations to understand the religious demographic of the communities they serve;
6. Notes that the proposed new Census question disengages religion from culture and identity and calls on the Australian Bureau of Statistics to keep the existing question, 'What is your religion?', which assesses religious identification as part of a person's culture and heritage, serving as an essential marker of other attributes and beliefs;
7. Recognises that Census data from the question 'What is your religion?' has helped demonstrate and monitor changes in Australia's multicultural character and it must continue to be a comprehensive and accurate tool for supporting services and activities provided by religious groups and government to meet Australians' needs; and
8. Calls on the Federal Australian Government to reject changes to the proposed 'reformulation' about religion in the upcoming 2026 Census.

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (16:12): I move:

That this Council—

1. Congratulates the French-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FACCI) which was founded in 1899 for celebrating the momentous occasion of its 125th anniversary in 2024;
2. Reflects on the 125 years of achievements by FACCI and on its remarkable milestone and acknowledges that Australia's relationship with France is underpinned by enduring historical links, with consular and diplomatic engagement dating back to 1842;
3. Acknowledges FACCI's key mission is to promote business opportunities between French and Australian companies by sharing valuable information, providing networking platforms and business support services;
4. Recognises Australia and France share a commitment to a dynamic bilateral relationship and FACCI plays a significant role to foster successful outcomes for French and Australian companies; and
5. Highlights the contributions by board members and partners of FACCI in strengthening the 'French connections' and creating business opportunities for South Australia across many industry sectors.

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. T.A. Franks:

1. That a select committee of the Legislative Council be established to inquire into and report on local and live creative venues, with particular reference to:

(a) the impacts of, and reasons for, recent loss of live music and local creative venues in South Australia;

(b) understanding the cultural, social, economic and other contributions made by local and live creative venues;

(c) supporting South Australian artists and creatives with venues and spaces where they can develop their craft, audiences and communities;

(d) understanding the types of cultural infrastructure needed for a healthy art, culture and creative sector in South Australia;

(e) protecting local and live creative venues and performance spaces; and

(f) any other related matters.

2. That this council permits the select committee to authorise the disclosure or publication, as it sees fit, of any evidence or documents presented to the committee prior to such evidence being presented to the council.

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (00:47): I move:

That this Council—

1. Congratulates Nonna's Cucina for reaching a special milestone of their 25^th anniversary in 2024;

2. Recognises that Nonna's Cucina is a unique community-based meal service provider where all meals are prepared fresh daily by qualified chefs and a trained team, and these nutritional meals are delivered safely by culturally and linguistically friendly staff and volunteers to the doors and homes of the aged, people with disabilities and people who may have special needs, predominantly within the Italian community of South Australia;

3. Acknowledges the important work of founding members, current and past presidents, board members and volunteers of Nonna's Cucina for their hard work, dedication and contributions in delivering 25 years of outstanding community service in South Australia;

4. Commends Nonna's Cucina for working collaboratively with government agencies, corporate organisations and other multicultural community organisations to deliver meal services and support those in need to remain living in their own homes; and

5. Reflects on the many achievements of Nonna's Cucina over the past 25 years and recognises the impact of Nonna's Cucina and its contributions to enrich multicultural South Australia.