The Hon. J.S. LEE (14:41): 

In question time on 18 October, in responding to a question regarding round 6 of the Building Better Regions Fund, and the application for funding for the Mount Gambier and District Saleyards project, the minister said:

What I have done is advocate on a number of occasions to a number of different ministers—and my office has been in contact with those ministerial officers on a number of occasions—to impress upon them the importance of this program and how important it is for our local region in the South-East.

My questions to the minister are:

1. In light of the decision by the federal government to scrap the Building Better Regions Fund and cut the $250 million allocated to round 6, will the minister now admit that she has been utterly ineffective as an advocate?

2. Will the minister also admit that she has failed the South-East community as a minister?

The Hon. J.S. LEE (15:29): 

In the 2021-22 annual report, the equal opportunity commissioner has called for a review into harassment in South Australia's hospitality industry. While a range of industry bodies have signalled they would be open to a review taking place, they are not prepared to fund such a review, particularly at a time when the hospitality industry is struggling with rising costs and labour shortages, and still recovering from the disruption of the COVID pandemic.

It is expected that a review into discrimination, abuse and sexual harassment in the hospitality industry would uncover significant under-reporting of such incidents, with young people and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds at most risk of being exploited or harassed. My questions to the Attorney-General are:

1. Has the Attorney-General read the 2021-22 annual report of the office of the equal opportunity commissioner?

2. Has the Attorney-General met with the commissioner to discuss the concerns raised in the annual report?

3. Does the Attorney-General agree that it is his responsibility, as Minister for Industrial Relations, to work with agencies to achieve fair, equitable and productive workplaces?

4. Will the government commit to such a review, recommended by the equal opportunity commissioner?

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:40): 

Supplementary question arising from the answer: can the Leader of the Government indicate when the first meeting of the National Energy Crisis Committee of cabinet will be held, and whether a face-to-face briefing to the opposition and crossbench members will be done because this is such an important issue?

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (15:01): 

Supplementary question: can the minister indicate to the chamber how much investment or funding has gone into the Evoke AG conference?

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (17:34): I move:

That this council—

1. Congratulates Youth Opportunities on celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2022;
2. Recognises the positive impact that Youth Opportunities has made in the lives of almost 15,000 young people across more than 80 schools and organisations in South Australia since its establishment; and
3. Acknowledges the valuable role that Youth Opportunities plays in empowering young people to reach their full potential through its personal leadership programs and social enterprise, Generation Thrive.

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. S.L. Game:

1. That a select committee of the Legislative Council be established to inquire into and report on the prohibition of Neo-Nazi symbols, with particular reference to:

(a) the symbols used to identify and promote Neo-Nazi and other ideologically motivated (extreme far right) groups, and options to prohibit their display;

(b) the activities of Neo-Nazi and other ideologically motivated extremist groups in South Australia;

(c) discrimination faced by Jewish South Australians and other groups within the community targeted by Neo-Nazi and other ideologically-motivated extremist groups;

(d) prohibitions on such symbols in other jurisdictions, including proposed prohibitions;

(e) the requirements of the Australian Constitution and other legal matters relevant to the prohibition of Neo-Nazi symbols; and

(f) any other relevant matters.

2. That the committee consist of four members and that the quorum of members necessary to be present at all meetings of the committee be fixed at three members.

3. 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.

(Continued from 7 September 2022.)

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (15:41): It is a great privilege today to rise and speak about the Australian Hotels Association 2022 SA Hotel Industry Awards for Excellence Gala Dinner that I was delighted to attend last night on 18 October 2022.

The Australian Hotels Association (SA) was established in 1871 as a peak industry body, and their members range from small country pubs to five-star hotels and resorts. There are some 630 hotels in South Australia.

It was an absolute pleasure to attend the AHA/SA gala dinner, and wonderful to join the Leader of the Liberal Party, the Hon. David Speirs MP, Shadow Attorney-General Josh Teague, and Shadow Treasurer Matt Cowdrey to support South Australia's hotel industry.

The Hotel Industry Awards celebrate the achievements of our state's best hoteliers, and recognise and promote excellence in service, facilities and management.

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (17:21): I move:

 That this council—

 1. Notes that 27 September is World Tourism Day;

 2. Supports the sector's strategy to increase South Australia's visitor economy to an annual $12.8 billion by 2030; and

 3. Commends the Marshall Liberal Government for its investment in infrastructure and marketing to encourage the sector's continuing growth and to help it manage the disruption caused by the loss of international and interstate visitation during COVID-19.

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (17:12): I rise today on behalf of the Opposition to speak to the Private Member's Motion moved by the Hon. Frank Pangallo about the Parthenon Sculptures housed at the British Museum in London.

I acknowledge that the Hon. Frank Pangallo is very passionate about this issue and is calling on the Legislative Council to express its support for the reunification of the Parthenon sculptures and demand their return to Greece.

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (15:45): Today I rise with a heavy heart to speak about the devastating floods and crisis unfolding in Pakistan.

Authorities and humanitarian groups are responding to the worst floods Pakistan has experienced in decades. The disaster has impacted some 33 million people and led to the deaths of more than a thousand people over the past two months.