Welcome to my 33rd edition of Morialta Matters! News and views inside this edition include the government’s response to the review of last year’s bushfire season, information about our nation-leading single use plastics legislation, and updates on local projects.

I often say that there is no better place to be in the world than South Australia. It has never been truer than this year, as we have confronted the coronavirus pandemic, and now live with world leading health outcomes, while also keeping our community and our economy more open than any other state.

Dr CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:55): My question is to the Minister for Education. How many job losses is the government expecting in the childcare sector as a result of the decision to change the ratios in long day care?

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Minister for Education) (14:55): I thank the member for the question. For those who are wondering what she is referring to, the National Quality Framework into the childcare sector has had all states, with the exception of South Australia and New South Wales, having a consistent approach to ratios, whether the ratio is 1:10 or 1:11, indeed, in some circumstances. South Australia has now moved, with the support and concurrence of other states, to be in line with the National Quality Framework in that area.

At a recent public meeting in Woodside, Adelaide Hills Mayor, Jan-Claire Wisdom, said it well: ‘While we may have seen the worst of nature in recent events, we have seen the best of humanity’.

During our recent bushfires, which hit our Morialta area hard, CFS volunteers from around SA and far beyond put their lives on hold to support people they’d never met. A number of our local brigades, fresh from
exhausting work on the Cudlee Creek fires, then provided volunteers to help our fellow South Australians on Kangaroo Island.

For the more than 12,000 Morialta residents who live in the Campbelltown Council area, one of the biggest
complaints I have received over the last five years has been the inappropriate over-development allowed by the DPA pushed through by the former government

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (21:59): Can I at the outset acknowledge the Hon. Tammy Franks in bringing this bill to the chamber, as her predecessor, the Hon. Michelle Lensink, and others in another chamber have been acknowledged and have brought their bills with genuinely held views in relation to the worth of the legislation that they have introduced.

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (21:02): It will come as no surprise to members of this chamber that I rise to indicate that I will not be supporting the second reading of this bill. The bill seeks to amend the Criminal Law Consolidation Act, the Summary Offences Act and the Equal Opportunity Act to decriminalise prostitution in South Australia. Given that existing legislation uses the term 'prostitution' I will too, but I mean no disrespect in doing so.

The Hon. C. BONAROS (20:21): I rise to speak in support of the second reading of the Statutes Amendment (Decriminalisation of Sex Work Bill) 2018. I note for the record that, given the nature of the bill, SA-Best, like other parties, has determined that the matter will be a conscience vote for the party.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (22:37): I would like to thank all honourable members who have made a contribution to this debate and to echo the words of the various reflections that we come to this place as representatives and to do the best job that we can on behalf of our constituents. That does not mean that we all hold the same opinions, of course; in fact, that is the very nature of a democratic place such as this council. But the reason we are here is to make decisions on behalf of our constituents. The decisions we make do affect and impact on the lives of many people.