Busy times inside and out of Parliament

The four weeks since my last update have been particularly busy, inside and outside of Parliament. I was pleased last week to be back in the Electorate Office albeit out everyday meeting with constituents, businesses and school leaders anywhere from Marion Bay to Port Broughton and multiple towns in between. 

During the last two sitting weeks, I lodged two petitions (one calling for investment in the Kadina-Wallaroo entrance road and the other demanding a solution to combat rising numbers of Pied Cormorants on SYP), delivered two grieve speeches, directed questions to Ministers, and formulated and introduced the  Road Traffic (Work Areas and Work Sites) Amendment Bill 2021.

The latter is to impose higher penalties on companies which leave unnecessary speed limit signs out around road works and is in response to the significant feedback I’ve received on this topic. In the chamber I also formally asked Minister Wingard specifically why speed restrictions on Highway One south of Port Wakefield remain in place for so long after work on new bitumen appears complete. To hear the Minister’s answer (and to view all my speeches) visit the "Parliament" tab of this website. 

Of the grieve speeches, one was about the impact on Port Vincent and Stansbury communities of the Pied Cormorants (shags) issue and the other was to again air my continued concerns about our health system and local health services. We simply must do more to attract and retain our rural doctor and nurse workforces as our towns and communities will wither and die without reasonably accessible health services.

I do not think it is an exaggeration to say that the attraction and retention of doctors in regional South Australia is the single biggest issue we face.

In some good news, I secured the commitment from Education Minister John Gardner MP there is no reform now afoot to remodel the SAPSASA system that would reduce the number of ‘’districts” and thus the numbers of rural students participating in this wonderful scheme that has worked successfully for decades. This swift response was a relief.

Visit the "Grants" tab of this website for grants news. Recently opened schemes include the COVID-19 Small Business Hardship grants, the SA Healthy Towns Challenge scheme, and Rounds five and six of the Great State Vouchers offering up to $200 off tourism accommodation and experiences.

For anyone coming to the Yorke Peninsula Field Days at Paskeville on 28-30 September, please call in and say hello at our site in the Cyclone Pavilion (site 15).