Parliament
CAMPBELLTOWN UNITING CHURCH
Mr TARZIA (Hartley) (15:29): Today I rise to speak about the Campbelltown Uniting Church Adult Fellowship Group, a wonderful group of people, and I commend them for the fantastic and valuable work they do in the community in giving many people not only more meaning in their life but also fellowship and a sense of community and company. The group does selfless things in the community in several walks of life and they have several activities. Tonight, in fact, I have the pleasure of hosting the Adult Fellowship Group in parliament, and I look forward to catching up with them and seeing what the latest is from their organisation tonight.
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (OFFENCES) AMENDMENT BILL
Mr TARZIA (Hartley) (11:28): It is very disappointing that this government, after 13 years, cannot handle the truth. They cannot handle the truth, Deputy Speaker. They are afraid of truth, and they are afraid of transparency. We have had a report given by an independent ombudsman—May 2014. How much time do you need? What is the Attorney doing? I know what he is doing: the Attorney is writing poor dad jokes; that is what he is doing. Instead if writing poor dad jokes, he should be looking at the report of the Ombudsman.
MEMORIES OF LEMNOS
Mr TARZIA (Hartley) (12:36): I also congratulate the organisation of Hellene and Hellene-Cypriot Women of Australia for its efforts to commemorate the centenary of ANZAC with the memories of Lemnos and the Australian nurses and the ANZAC centenary ceremony on Sunday, 19 April at Keswick Barracks. I also recognise the service given by Australian nurses on the Greek island of Lemnos during the Gallipoli landings. I also recognise Greece for supporting Australia's war effort through its support for Australian nurses stationed at military hospitals based on Lemnos island during the Gallipoli campaign, and also to consider a permanent memorial specifically commemorating the Australian women who served as nurses on Lemnos island to be incorporated in the soon-to-be constructed Anzac Walk.
NATIVE VEGETATION (ROAD VERGES) AMENDMENT BILL
Mr TARZIA (Hartley) (11:04): I also rise today to support the bill to amend the Native Vegetation Act and I commend the member for Morphett, a good hardworking member in touch with his community, for once again bringing a bill of this nature to this place.
Sovereign Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem, the Knights of Malta, Grand Priory of Australia, Adelaide Commandery
Mr TARZIA (Hartley) (17:27): Today I wish to speak about the Sovereign Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem, the Knights of Malta, Grand Priory of Australia, Adelaide Commandery, and the recent investiture ball that I attended at the weekend. I want to talk about the event, the men and women who were appointed as knights and dames, and about the fundraising activities that they have done as well.
HARTLEY ELECTORATE SERVICE CLUBS
Mr TARZIA (Hartley) (15:46): At the weekend I not only attended one changeover function, but two. The first of those was for the Rotary Club of Magill Sunrise (a breakfast club), and the second was for the Rotary Club of Campbelltown. I wish to bring a couple of things to the house's attention today with regard to those wonderful clubs.
HARTLEY ELECTORATE SCHOOLS
Mr TARZIA (Hartley) (15:37): I rise to acknowledge and congratulate many of the hardworking students, parents and teachers of the schools in my electorate. I point out that, in recent times, I have met with every one of those schools and, in fact, I have been able to bring them into this place to take them through the house and to learn a little bit about what they are doing at the moment and how we can help, and it has been a fantastic opportunity to do those things.
STATUTES AMENDMENT (SERIOUS AND ORGANISED CRIME) BILL
Mr TARZIA (Hartley) (16:27): I also rise today to support the Statute Amendment (Serious and Organised Crime) Bill 2015 and to highlight some of the concerns about the legislation, which I hope that the esteemed Attorney will take on board and consider as a future reference. As the member for Bragg alluded to, the principles of the Magna Carta of 1215 are as relevant now as they were then. Issues such as equality before the law and the natural rule of law are being raised, questioned and discussed. She certainly raised many valid points in relation to the balance that needs to be reached between such laws when you look at the freedom element that they take from people and how that needs to be weighed up against the security elements of the law.
CAMPANIA SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB
Mr TARZIA (Hartley) (12:43): I move:
That this house—
(a) recognises that 2015 is the 40th anniversary of the Campania Sports and Social Club;
(b) acknowledges the wonderful work that this club has done over the years in the promotion of Italian culture, food, language and support of Italian Australians and the broader community; and
(c) pays tribute to the activities of this club, and others like it, which enrich the life of our state as a whole and contribute to a better and more diverse South Australia.
COMMUNITY SPORT AND RECREATION
Mr TARZIA (Hartley) (12:11): I also recognise the benefits of grassroots community sport and recreation to South Australia, and I also urge the state government to reverse its decision to reduce funding to the Community Recreation and Sport Facilities Program by $3.5 million per annum from 2015-16. I also call on the state government to ensure that all community sport and recreation grants are indexed by CPI.