Fullarton Park Centre
411 Fullarton Road
Fullarton

In Parliament on Wednesday 8th April 2009 I spoke about managing the South Australian water crisis. The main points of my speech were:

• We need to have a pricing system that relates much more to how the individual, household or business consumes water rather than having a relatively flat rate for the consumption of water.

• If I had my way, I would also reduce or eliminate the supply charge. I realise that the Productivity Commission nationally has recommended maintenance of a supply charge, but I still believe that, given the water crisis in South Australia, it would be better for us to have something much more aligned to a user-pays system in relation to water. It can be argued that the supply charge is there for capital purposes, but one can also consider that, for South Australia’s existing residential households, the capacity has well and truly already been established; and so that supply charge, in a sense, is there to bolster SA Water’s numbers from which the government receives a dividend.

• The problem with the current approach of water restrictions is that they apply only to the gardens. Although water use on residential gardens is a substantial part of our total water use, the water we use inside—in the laundry, in the bathroom, toilet and the kitchen—is very substantial.

• Those who use twice as much as the average household should pay about twice as much and those who use about half as much as the average household should pay about half as much. Of course, into any such system one would need to build in a system of rebates or discounts for concession holders, whether they be pensioners, unemployed people, etc., and also for dependents.

• A change to water pricing needs to be driven from the government—top down—to make sure that every one within SA Water is working on conserving water, not just on reducing demand but also establishing wetlands. I still believe that the Water Proofing Adelaide report, which came out a few years ago, is an excellent blueprint for us to proceed with.

• I read out a list of potential wetland sites and some of the estimates that have been provided in relation to how much water could be retained and reused. Even if this water is re-used only for outdoor purposes, it is an astonishing proportion of Adelaide’s total current use. In fact, it adds up to about a third of the current total.

• There are other things that the government could be doing better. In relation to rebates, I think there is scope for increased rebates, but also applying the rebates in a smarter way; for example, I think there should be rebates for stand-alone rainwater tanks.

• Although the government has taken action in some respects to address the water problem, indeed, drastic steps in terms of the desalination plant expenditure and the proposal to cut off the River Murray at Wellington, there is a lot more that we could be doing on the Adelaide Plains. The result could be a relaxing of water restrictions, and I know that that is what the community wants.

I have raised questions over the motive behind targets set for SAPOL Officers to achieve a specified number of motorist traffic stops.

Figures I received through the Freedom of Information Act indicate that the rate of traffic stops made by SAPOL, resulting in some form of infringement notice, has kept pace with targets set.

It was projected that there would be 185,595 direct traffic stops during the 2007/2008 financial year in SA.

Interestingly, when the target for 2007/2008 was set at 229,490, it resulted in 222,059 contacts with motorists by SAPOL officers.

Either traffic offences are increasing, or this is just another money grab by the State Government.

These numbers, comprising of arrests, reports, expiation notices, documented cautions and motor vehicle defect notices, read more like company sales figures than a valid road safety campaign.

One of my constituents was recently stopped by a police officer and cautioned for using a mobile phone while driving, which was completely unfounded. The constituent was told that she could discard the caution notice when she got home.

Not only does this place added pressure on police officers to meet their daily quota for traffic infringements, it creates a distraction from dealing with more serious criminal activity in their local area.

My concern is that traffic policing should be used for legitimate road safety purposes and not Government revenue-raising or political point-scoring.

I am alarmed at the increase in certain criminal activity affecting commuters on South Australian public transport services.

Statistics I received through the Freedom of Information Act show that offences against people using public transport has steadily increased over the past three years.

According to the data, there were 322 ‘offences against the person’ in 2005/06, increasing to 347 in 2006/07, and again rising to 352 in 2007/08.

These incidents took place while people were using a public tram, train or bus, or simply waiting at public transport facilities.

Commuters are entitled to feel safe at a time when the use of public transport should be encouraged.

It has also been discovered that the level of graffiti on public transport services and facilities rose remarkably over the same period.

This is a clear indication that the Government has a long way to go in cleaning up public transport in SA.

I was shocked to see video footage of Ian Tomlinson at a G20 protest in London before he died. The footage shows Tomlinson, who was not part of the demonstration, being attacked from behind and thrown to the ground by baton wielding Police. Moments after this attack Tomlinson suffered a heart attack and died.

This video can be seen at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HECMVdl-9SQ

I am pleased the State Government has ruled out housing on Glenthorne Farm. Last week I tabled a petition in the House of Assembly consisting of more than 1300 signatures, which clearly shows the depth of opposition to the development of housing on the Glenthorne site. The Government’s announcement is a huge win for the conservation of a wonderful historic farmland in Adelaide’s south.  I have written to Premier Rann suggesting that the Government forms a committee to address the future of Glenthorne Farm, so that uses for the property, which are consistent with the current Deed, can be considered.