Myriad of topics in last two Parliamentary sitting weeks

Multiple topics have been raised in the chamber this month which I will briefly summarise here; for full speeches please refer to the Parliament tab on this website.

Activity included a Private Members statement about Snowtown moving forward from the murder case 25 years ago that it has unfairly since become nationally/internationally renowned for; questioning the Minister for Health on the announced Single Employer Model designed to entice more GPs into regional areas; seeking information about the future of the former Yorketown Hospital Nurses Quarters building in disrepair; and extensive discussion on the Parliamentary Committees (Referral of Petitions) Amendment Bill which has impacted progress of the health petition I presented to Parliament last November and which I hope will now lead to committee referral and a thorough investigation into the requests petitioned by the near 11,000 participating signatories.  

In response to the considerable concerns raised with me about a released draft plan to mitigate risk for trucks accessing the extensive sealed/unsealed Yorke Peninsula Road Network, I gave a Grieve to highlight the need for balance that appreciates and recognises impacts on the productivity of our primary industries which drive our local economy. YP Council consultation closes 4pm Friday 24 May and I urge stakeholders to participate in this important engagement process.

Topics raised the previous sitting week included speaking on the urgent need for health services in Ardrossan; funding to resurface the Maitland netball and tennis courts; the need for reimbursement of costs to upgrade power supply for the Edithburgh Sporting and Community club project; and contributing to the Bail Conditions Amendment Bill.

Good news

Finally, the long-awaited upgrade of the Wallaroo entrance road project has commenced, and I also commend all involved in fantastic projects that have been recently announced as successful recipients of government funding.

These include:

Central Yorke School at Maitland ($410,000 from the Federal Government’s Schools Upgrade Fund for a new Nature Play Space and Gym/Home Economics spaces refurbishment) and State Government Thriving Regions Fund recipients, namely: Fisherman’s Bay Progress Association ($35,000 for a walking trail from Port Broughton); Snowtown Progress Association ($47,000 for powered sites at Snowtown RV Park); Price Progress Association ($47,000 for its museum and art space project); SYP Community Hub ($34,686 for an Incident Response trailer); SYP Agricultural Society Inc ($35,000 for its Minlaton Heritage Show Pavilion restoration project); Lochiel Progress Association ($48,000 for Lochiel Community Centre upgrades; and Blyth Progress Association ($40,000 for 2 km walk and bike trail project).