The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:35): 

My question is to the parliamentary secretary to the Premier on Autism SA. After taking a question on notice, can the parliamentary secretary now please advise the chamber of any changes at all to the funding given to autism since the change of government in 2022?

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (15:43): 

I rise today to ask the people of South Australia to question the Malinauskas Labor government about their priorities. Before the last election, Peter Malinauskas promised to fix ramping as a top priority, but sadly, under this Labor government, our health system is rapidly deteriorating. It is very disappointing that Premier Malinauskas' priorities are all wrong.

Earlier this week, it was reported that nine people waited more than 24 hours for a hospital bed and 16 waited over 12 hours for a bed, trapped in hospital emergency departments. We repeatedly asked Labor ministers in this place and the other place questions regarding the health crisis in this state. We were ignored and we received no answers. South Australians who are sick and need urgent medical help are suffering the impacts of record ramping and chronic emergency department overcrowding.

Please allow me to take you back to earlier this month, on 2 February. Data showed that 20 patients waited more than 12 hours for a bed and some more than 24 hours. When vulnerable patients' lives were at risk and in need of urgent health treatment, where was Premier Peter Malinauskas on that day? Sadly, he was not in South Australia. He was on Bondi Beach, running shoulder to shoulder with New South Wales Labor opposition leader. A picture of the pair running, stamped with the Baywatch logo, was posted by New South Wales Labor on Twitter. It was the clearest sign that Peter Malinauskas had the wrong priorities.

For the public record, on Peter Malinauskas' watch ramping has soared 135 per cent to record levels. The health crisis has never been worse. Our hospital system continues to struggle under record ramping and emergency department overcrowding, with South Australian families paying the price.

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (South Australia) estimated that by the year 2025 South Australia alone would be short by 10,000 to 15,000 nurses and midwives. To address this problem the Liberal Party is calling on the Malinauskas Labor government to make it easier for South Australians who wish to re-enter nursing to gain the required qualifications. Former nurses have raised concerns with the Liberal opposition over the difficulties and obstacles they are currently facing for them to regain their nursing registration. Many nurses who have been out of practice for five years or more are required to complete a Nursing and Midwifery Board-approved re-entry to practice program.

For registered nurses these programs are offered at the Australian College of Nursing in New South Wales, the Central Queensland University, La Trobe University in Victoria and Western Australia's University of Notre Dame. Students at ACN, CQU and Notre Dame must relocate interstate for at least part of their studies. La Trobe offers a more flexible online program; however, a fee of $8,250 must be paid up-front, with no subsidies or FEE-HELP loan scheme in place.

There are so many barriers for former nurses wanting to re-enter the profession in South Australia. Former nurses who came forward to speak with the Liberal opposition indicated that they are keen to get back to work, reducing the pressures on our health system, but they simply cannot afford the costs involved or spend time interstate to get the qualifications they need.

The Leader of the Opposition, David Speirs, member for Black, together with the shadow minister for health, Ashton Hurn, member for Schubert, are calling on Premier Peter Malinauskas to step up and work with his federal colleagues to make sure that re-entry pathways for nurses are more accessible for South Australians. We need the Labor government to explore every avenue to remove barriers for nurses wanting to re-enter the workforce.

The current barriers for entry for nurses based in South Australia mean that many are simply giving up on the profession. The Malinauskas Labor government must take responsibility and address these issues. The Liberal Party is urging the Labor government to be more proactive in gaining and retaining nurses in South Australia.

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (16:43): 

I move:

That this council—

1. Acknowledges that Harmony Week is celebrated from 21 March to 27 March 2023, beginning with Harmony Day on 21 March;

2. Notes that Harmony Day has been celebrated in Australia since 1999 and expanded to Harmony Week in 2019;

3. Recognises the rich cultural, linguistic, racial and religious diversity of our South Australian community, and acknowledges that migrants and their descendants contribute to all aspects of our economy and society; and

4. Celebrates the success of multiculturalism and interculturalism in South Australia and encourages all community members to come together to show their support for cultural diversity and inclusion.

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:40): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs about Aboriginal children.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S. LEE: 

The Kate Alexander report called Trust in Culture, a review of child protection in South Australia, was released last year. The review was an investigation into deaths of children in care of family or the state. In her report, she states that seven of the eight children whose tragic deaths are at the centre of this review were identified as Aboriginal. There has been a 116.3 per cent increase of Aboriginal children in care in South Australia over the last decade and the number is trending up. Unfortunately, only half of those children are placed with family or kin.

South Australia also has the highest rate of Aboriginal children on long-term guardianship orders and the lowest rate of reunification for Aboriginal children compared with other Australian states and territories. My questions to the minister are:

1. As the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, what action has he undertaken to ensure that long-term guardianship orders decrease for Aboriginal children?

2. Can the minister explain what actions have been undertaken by the government to improve the rates of reunification for Aboriginal children with their families?

3. Can the minister indicate which recommendations in that report will the government implement, particularly in relation to the specific focus required for Aboriginal children?

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:42): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Industrial Relations regarding public holidays.

Leave granted.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Wortley! Continue, please, deputy.

The Hon. J.S. LEE: 

The SDA launched their campaign on Sunday to have Easter Sunday declared as an additional public holiday. They are urging the Malinauskas government to use declaration powers rather than waiting for legislation to make Easter Sunday a public holiday in 2023. My questions for the minister are:

1. The government has ruled out this year, but the business community would like to know whether the minister will rule it out for future years.

2. If the Labor government makes Easter Sunday a public holiday in the future, will the government—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Ms Girolamo and the Hon. Mr Wortley!

The Hon. J.S. LEE:

 —remove the Easter Monday public holiday or another public holiday to ensure that businesses do not suffer and, if so, which public holiday will the minister remove?

3. Will the minister please provide some clarity to the community on this matter?

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:55): 

I seek leave to provide a brief explanation before asking a question of the Attorney-General, representing the Minister for the Environment, on beach management. The minister in the other house has declared a conflict of interest and has delegated this responsibility to the Attorney-General.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S. LEE: 

The panel tasked to review the sand management at West Beach, Henley South and Henley has released its terms of reference. Those terms of reference are:

The review will address the following matters:

1. How to manage sand on Adelaide's beaches achieve the follow goals. The priorities are:

(i) Minimise disruption for all communities;

(ii) Avoid environmental harm; and

(iii) Maximise sand staying on beaches.

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:44): My question is to the Leader of the Government about government accountability. Can the Leader of the Government inform the council whether he was invited to the taxpayer-funded Sam Smith concert held on 11 January and, if not, why doesn't the Premier consider the Leader of the Government in this very important place an influencer of this state?

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (15:52): It is with great pleasure that I rise today to speak about community education, more specifically I would like to highlight a fantastic initiative by this parliament to support community education about our important democratic system.

Today, I want to give a big shout-out to acknowledge our Community Education Office right here in Parliament House. Natalie and Edgar are doing such amazing work providing resources, designing education programs and hosting special events to help members of parliament to engage with students and members of the public about how our parliamentary system works and how decisions made in this place impact on the lives of everyday South Australians.

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (17:31): I move:

That this council—

1.  Recognises that Variety, The Children’s Charity SA, has been supporting children who are sick, disadvantaged, or living with disability in South Australia for almost 40 years;
2.  Acknowledges the significant positive impact that Variety SA has made in the lives of South Australian children through providing grants, scholarships, gifts, activities and equipment to support kids in need and their families; and
3.  Acknowledges that the generosity of Variety’s donors, partners, and volunteers helped support more than 29,000 South Australian children in 2020-21.

It is a great honour to rise today to move the motion standing in my name. It is a great opportunity today to recognise the incredible contributions of Variety, The Children's Charity South Australia make towards supporting children who are sick, disadvantaged and living with disability in our state.

For almost 40 years, Variety has been supporting South Australian children to follow their dreams and achieve their goals no matter what their ability and no matter what life throws at them.

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (16:52): I rise on behalf of the Liberal Party to speak on the motion moved by the Hon. Irene Pnevmatikos regarding the Israel and Palestine conflict.

The unresolved Israel-Palestine conflict continues to be a major concern and is very upsetting for those who are directly or indirectly affected.

It is important to, firstly, acknowledge that all Honourable Members in this place will respectfully express our support to advocate for the right of both Israelis and Palestinians to live in equality, peace and security within internationally recognised borders.

After much consideration and discussion with my parliamentary colleagues, I wish to indicate that the Liberal Party will be supporting the amended motion moved by the Hon. Sarah Game MLC.