Speech: South Australian Bushfires
The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (15:26): I also rise to support the Premier's motion: as the Premier rightly said, a motion no Premier ever wants to move. As Minister for Emergency Services, people often ask me about matters relating to stations, trucks, hoses, PPE and helmets. But what I want to talk about today is what is behind all that—that is, the people.
Without the people to staff the stations, jump on the trucks, hold the hoses and wear the PPE and helmets we have nothing. We have all the state-of-the-art equipment in the world, but without the people standing on the front line with the equipment it is all of no use. While I cannot mention all those people now, I have met many and will continue to get around and meet more and thank them for their service.
Prior to the Christmas break, as the weather warmed up, members in this place reflected on the important roles of our emergency service men and women, volunteers and paid staff who do not just give up their time but also their safety to protect our state when called to do so. At that time, no member in this place could have anticipated the true scale of destruction and devastation that was to come in the weeks that followed.
Read moreSpeech: Emergency Services Equipment
Dr HARVEY: Sure. My question is to the Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services. Can the minister explain to the house how remotely piloted aircraft systems are being utilised to support our emergency services and what is the future capability across South Australia?
The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:39): I thank the member for Newland for his very important question and his interest in technology and the future growth of the technology sector here in South Australia. As everyone knows, of course the emergency services have had a very busy start to 2020. While we have seen devastation across South Australia with the bushfires, I can say that at times the resources within our emergency services sector have been put to the test, but that's why it is very important that we do all we can to make sure that our emergency services have the best equipment and the best technology going forward.
Read moreSpeech: Adelaide International Tennis Tournament
Mr PATTERSON (Morphett) (14:36): My question is to the Minister for Sport, Recreation and Racing. Can the minister update the house on the success of the Adelaide International?
The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:36): I thank the member for his great question and note what a wonderful forehand he has, plenty of top spin, a great slice backhand, a very crafty player who was on display, I must say, at the Adelaide International. What a time for tennis in South Australia, what a time for sport in South Australia and what a time for South Australia.
'Build it and they will come,' and we built it and they came. South Australia has played home to world-class tennis before but, as we saw in January this year, there has never been a more exciting time for tennis in our state. The Marshall government has delivered yet again and we're not stopping anytime soon. I think you will agree that the new roof that we have on Memorial Drive and that precinct was absolutely fantastic and it served our community wonderfully well.
Read moreAdelaide International Tennis Tournament
Mr ELLIS (Narungga) (15:04): My question is to the Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing. Can the minister update the house on the Adelaide International 2020 coming this summer?
The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (15:04): I thank the member for Narungga for his ace question—and what an exciting time it is for tennis in South Australia, what an exciting time for sport.
Read moreGovernment's investment in grassroots sport is leading to jobs in our regions
Mr TRELOAR: My question is to the Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing. How is the government's investment in grassroots sport leading to jobs in our regions?
The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (15:05): I thank the member for Flinders for his question, and it's with great pleasure that I update the house on what the Marshall Liberal government is doing in investing in sport in South Australia, especially in our regions, and growing jobs as well. I know that the member for Flinders is very passionate about this. He is a big champion for investment in his local community, and that is what we are delivering.
Our government is focused on creating jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs. I am pleased to inform the house that 165 jobs have been created as a result of a number of important construction projects from our multimillion boost into sporting facilities.
Read moreGibson Electorate
The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (15:15): I rise to speak on a number of important issues that are happening in my local community and my electorate and to update the house on the Hove crossing project. I have spoken in this house many times before about the Oaklands crossing project, and I am pleased to let everyone know that the continuing benefits in my community as a result of this project are being very well received. In fact, I get stopped in the street regularly by people who are so excited about the delivery of this project. After 30 or 40 years in the waiting, this has been a great result for everyone in my local area.
Read moreMinda Dunes Coast Park
The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (15:25): It is with great pleasure that I rise today to speak about one of the milestones in my local community at Somerton Park. It was an honour to open the Minda Dunes Coast Park on 20 October; a glorious Sunday it was, too. It was a pleasure to be there with the member for Morphett in our community. This is a shared pathway that quintessentially joins the member for Morphett's electorate and my electorate.
Read moreMemorial Drive Redevelopment
Mr COWDREY (Colton) (14:26): My question is to the Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing. Can the minister update the house on the Memorial Drive precinct redevelopment and the opportunities it will create with jobs in this state?
Read moreCommunity Recognition Awards
The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (15:24): I rise today to speak about the Community Recognition Awards I held in my electorate recently. Every year, in conjunction with my friend and neighbour the member for Black, I hold a winter warmer event to present Community Recognition Awards to local residents who make a big difference in our communities. It is great to do these awards because so many people out there do so many things, but there are people out there who just fly under the radar, and our intent is to capture those people.
Read moreFire & Emergency Services (Volunteer Charters) Amendment Bill
The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (11:08): I rise to speak on the Fire and Emergency Services (Volunteer Charters) Amendment Bill, which has come to this place from the other place. It is a bill to amend the Fire and Emergency Services Act 2005. I am proud to rise to confirm that the government will be supporting this bill today. Put simply, the bill provides legislative recognition of the South Australian Country Fire Service and State Emergency Service volunteer charters.
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