Parliament

Extract from Hansard - House of Assembly 17 October 2019

I rise to speak today in support of the Controlled Substances (Youth Treatment Orders) Amendment Bill 2018. Across Australia, the abuse of illicit substances has a devastating impact, not only to the user but also their families and the broader community. Drug dependence is a serious and complex issue which can lead to substantial illness, disease, social and family disruptions, workplace issues, violence, crime and, sadly, in some cases, death.

Extract from Hansard - House of Assembly 16 October 2019

Public housing and homelessness is a significant social problem across Australia. This very significant social problem is particularly relevant to me as the member for Adelaide and also the Minister for Child Protection. In my electorate and specifically within the CBD, September figures provided from the Adelaide Zero Project by-name list show that 163 people were identified as sleeping rough at 18 September, compared with 208 in August and greater numbers in July, June and May.

Extract from Hansard - House of Assembly 25 September 2019

I rise to speak today on the Statutes Amendment (Decriminalisation of Sex Work) Bill 2018. Back in 2016, when this was last proposed, I did extensive surveying and researching not only in my electorate but also statewide. I conducted an online Survey Monkey questionnaire that around 1,000 people contributed to—several hundred being constituents of mine, so they are the ones that I have paid the most attention to. Broadly, from those I represent, around 82 per cent were supportive of decriminalisation of the sex work industry.

Extract from Hansard - House of Assembly 11 September 2019

I rise in support of this motion. Last week, during Child Protection Week, there were many events held across the state to acknowledge the work of all those in the community who support children and families impacted by child abuse.

Extract from Hansard - House of Assembly 10 September 2019

I also would like to speak on the Surrogacy Bill and commend the Attorney-General for bringing this to the house. I would also like to acknowledge the extensive work of the Hon. John Dawkins over many years on this topic. I actually worked with the Hon. John Dawkins many years ago. I was just trying to find the date, but I believe it was in my first term, so between 2010 and 2014, that I actually brought amendments to the house as a backbencher. I believe it was one of the first times that an opposition backbencher actually had support for a private member’s bill.

Extract from Hansard - House of Assembly 31 July 2019

I also rise to support this motion as amended by the member for Elder. I thank the member for Mount Gambier for bringing to this place the opportunity to talk about homelessness. Across Australia, this is a very significant social problem that is particularly relevant to me, not only as the member for Adelaide but also as the Minister for Child Protection.

The Hon. R. SANDERSON (Adelaide—Minister for Child Protection) (11:34): I also rise to support the motion moved by the Premier and to give my sincere condolences to the Sri Lankan community and all those who are affected. Easter Sunday is the day Christians around the world celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. However, for those worshipping in the shrine of St Anthony, St Sebastian's Church and the Protestant evangelical Zion Church in Sri Lanka, their day of celebration turned into horror the moment suicide bombers entered each of those places, detonating their devices.

The Hon. R. SANDERSON (Adelaide—Minister for Child Protection) (12:12): I rise to support the Premier's motion. Tragically, Friday 15 March 2019 will be indelibly imprinted on the minds of those in our sister city of Christchurch in New Zealand and the world. Through the hatred of one man, at least 50 people have lost their life and countless others have had theirs changed forever. Those directly impacted were simply attending communal prayer in their place of worship, engaging in peaceful reflection with God.

The Hon. R. SANDERSON (Adelaide—Minister for Child Protection) (12:38): I rise to speak on the Criminal Law Consolidation (Foster Parents and Other Positions of Authority) Amendment Bill 2018. This bill is yet another way the Liberal government is both tidying up legislative drafting oversights dating back to 2017 and strengthening the law relating to offences against children in care. I commend the Attorney-General for bringing the bill to this place, and I commend the opposition for their support. This bill seeks to make two amendments. The first is to clarify the definition of the phrase 'foster-parent'. The second is to include as a category of 'position of authority' a person employed or providing services in licensed children's residential care facilities.

The Hon. R. SANDERSON (Adelaide—Minister for Child Protection) (17:23): I rise to speak on the Statutes Amendment (Child Exploitation and Encrypted Material) Bill 2018 and commend the Attorney-General for bringing back to this place the bill that was introduced but not passed by the former government.