Introduction and First Reading

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services) (16:03): Obtained leave and introduced a bill for an act to amend the Road Traffic Act 1961 and to make related amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act 1959. Read a first time.

Second Reading

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services) (16:03): I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

The Marshall Liberal government is committed to ensuring that South Australian roads are as safe as possible and that drivers who put other road users at risk are excluded from driving as soon as they are caught. This bill allows police to step in at the roadside where drivers have engaged in clear-cut behaviour that puts the safety of road users at risk. For the first time anywhere in Australia, the bill will allow for police to issue a notice of immediate loss of licence for a first offence of drug driving.

Introduction and First Reading

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services) (16:09):Obtained leave and introduced a bill for an act to amend the Firearms Act 2015. Read a first time.

Second Reading

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services) (16:09): I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

I seek leave to have the second reading explanation and explanation of clauses inserted in Hansard without my reading them

Leave granted.

The Firearms (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill 2021 amends the Firearms Act 2015 (SA) (the Firearms Act) to enhance public safety and address the Coronial inquest recommendations arising from the tragic murder of Mr Lewis McPherson. The Bill also fulfils South Australia's commitment to the National Firearms Agreement to re-categorise lever action shotguns.

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 22 June 2021.)

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services) (16:35): I am very pleased to speak on this bill in regard to the 2021-22 state budget. It is a strong budget, it will certainly create jobs, it will result in better services and we as a government will continue to build what matters. It is also a budget that builds on the investments we have been making now for several years. I would like to highlight some of the initiatives in the budget in my respective portfolio areas.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services) (14:00): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: During the early hours of Monday morning, a senior SAPOL detective radioed the phrase 'execute resolution' which sent more than 450 SAPOL officers into action, resulting in the largest number of arrests for serious and organised crime offences ever seen in this state on a single day. As members are likely aware, these arrests were the result of the state's biggest covert police operation, Operation Ironside.

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 26 May 2021.)

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services) (12:35): I am very pleased to have the opportunity to speak on this bill. Too often, we see examples of hoon drivers playing with their own lives but also the lives of others on our roads. This bill sends a strong message to drivers who have no regard for public safety and choose to drive at extreme speeds on our roads that this behaviour will not be tolerated.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services) (11:44): I also rise in support of the motion. It is my absolute pleasure to speak on the $52 million upgrade that is currently underway at Norwood Morialta High School. As part of the Marshall Liberal government's $1.3 billion education capital works program, the $52 million upgrade will increase the capacity of the campus on The Parade to 1,700 students, allowing all year levels to be on the same site.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services) (15:38): Can I compliment you, sir, on the calm and comprehensive way in which you deliberate these matters—very well done.

I rise today to honour a great man and friend from my electorate of Hartley—the late George Scherer. I am also delighted that today his wife of 44 years, Vivette Scherer, has joined us in the gallery to hear his much-deserved tribute. George's whole life was about dedication to his family and service to his local community. I first met George back in 2012 and we remained firm friends from that time forward.

Condolence motion resumed.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services) (14:17): I also rise today to pay tribute to a predecessor of mine in the seat of Hartley, Terence Robert Groom, better known as Terry. I first met Terry while I did my GDLP placement at Camatta Lempens in about 2009. I acknowledge many of the lawyers who spent a fair bit of time at that particular firm where I certainly learnt a lot. I really enjoyed Terry's company during my time there.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services) (10:42): I rise to speak on the bill, which seeks to amend section 85B of the Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935 by increasing the maximum penalty for causing a bushfire from 20 years' imprisonment to life imprisonment. It also requires a court to require a person found guilty of an offence under section 85B to pay compensation for injury, loss or damage under section 124 of the Sentencing Act 2017.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services) (16:56): Buona sera. It is an absolute pleasure for me to speak on the South Australian Multicultural Bill and I do so as a very proud grandson of Italian migrants who left post World War II Italy to come to Australia seeking a better life. I have often said that I would describe our rich South Australian community as a somewhat beautiful mosaic, with all these different pieces and different cultures coming together.