Hon Iain Evans MP

The Parliament's Natural Resource Management Committee recently conducted an inquiry into Bushfires.

This is the interim report which touches on many issues affecting residents in both the Adelaide and Mitcham Hills in relation to fire.

Cricket enthusiasts need to consider carefully the impact that a drop-in pitch at Adelaide Oval will have on cricket.

Which Australian test venue is the least liked by professional cricketers for test cricket? The MCG!

So before Adelaide Oval goes to a drop-in pitch the cricketing public need to think very carefully about what the impact will be on Adelaide Oval.

According to the last survey of cricketers they love the MCG as a stadium but they hate playing on it.

Guess which oval Cricket players most like to play on? You guessed it- Adelaide ! With 39 per cent of cricketers favouring Adelaide Oval and only 20 per cent preferring the MCG Adelaide is twice as popular as the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The MCG is the least preferred test pitch in Australia- Adelaide is the second most preferred pitch after the Gabba.

For Shield Cricket the MCG pitch is the third last and Adelaide Oval is again the second most preferred.

Cricket lovers beware the drop-in pitch!

I have made a submission to the Federal Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government in response to the 'Adelaide Rail Freight Movements Study' discussion paper that was released in October 2009.

Submissions were due on the 20th November 2009.

As the State Member for Davenport, I have represented the Mitcham Hills for 16 years. The rail freight service has a huge impact on the residents of the Mitcham Hills and my electorate.

My submission supports Option 3 - a Northern Bypass, South of Truro. I have made this submission on behalf of my electorate.

A copy of my submission is available below. 

Iain Evans, Liberal MP for Davenport    (891ABC 9.15-9.20)   Upgrade to the freight line in the Adelaide Hills / Calls to move the Adelaide Hills railway line

(Bevan: …good morning Iain Evans … what’s your position on this?) I actually raised this issue with the railway track owner, the Australian Rail Track Corporation because of road concerns by the local residents and all of those three stations you mentioned are in my electorate and the answer is that the ARTC … advised that the lights would be flashing in all three stations at the same time, with the longer trains, if the lights are flashing, that means that the barriers are down … they say it will only be for about 20 seconds … (Bevan: …you mean an extra 20 seconds) No, my understanding of ARTC’s advice is that when I asked the question, will all three railway crossings be blocked at the same time, their advice was, the lights would be flashing at all three crossings at the same time for about 20 seconds … they claim that wouldn’t close all three at the same time, I’m not convinced of that because if the lights are flashing, the barriers are down … I think the answer is that all three crossings will be closed at the same time for 20 seconds and that increases the risk, the local residents and my position is, I want the railway line moved out of the Adelaide Hills, I think there are economic grounds, there are social reasons (Abraham: …that would be massively expensive … who would pay for that? …) I’ll tell you who will pay for that … we have a Federal Government that just spent about $9b giving out $900 grants so people could buy big TVs and computers, so I don’t accept the argument anymore that there’s not enough money to spend what is estimated to be $700m to $1b in moving the freight line north of Adelaide which will improve the service for the freight industry and it will improve the quality of life of people in the Mitcham Hills … Mitcham Council have put up a proposal and it’s nothing new, it’s been around for 50 or 60 years, but we’ve suggested leave the existing freight line somewhere around the Murray Bridge, Callington and swing north and connect up to the line north of Adelaide, that has gone to the Federal Minister, both Liberal and Labor Party’s federally at the last election promised a $3m study in to moving the freight line north of the city, Anthony Albanese, the Federal Minister promised to release a discussion paper on that in July … they’ve promised to release it imminently was what he said last week … the Federal Government are committed, they’re spending $3m and looking to moving the freight line north of the city, so when we say, who will pay for it, ultimately the Federal Government will contribute the most money towards it, but I don’t accept anymore … the money’s not there because the Federal Government is just spending money like it’s going out of fashion (Bevan: …the most serious concerns would be on days of extreme bushfire hazard … are there special rules at the moment for freight trains operating in the Adelaide Hills on those days?) Not to my knowledge … you may want to take that up with the track owner … but there are other issues and I invite your program … to come up and listen to the freight trains because my electorate will tell you there is a terrible rail squeal … that is made, the metal wheel on the metal track … … (Bevan: …I’ve heard it many times …) Your listeners haven’t (Bevan: …Tim has been up there several times …he’s brought that noise to our listeners …) and the other issue, the reason for the movement of the freight line, the simple fact is, even if two crossings are closed at the same time, which is the current circumstance, the reality is in a bushfire that is a big issue … the road infrastructure in the Mitcham Hills does not have the capacity to carry an evacuation (Abraham: …Ivan Evans, Liberal MP for Davenport)

Continued...

Iain Evans supports Tom Easling’s call for an independent inquiry into all matters relating to his investigation, arrest and court case.

Tom Easling was charged with 20 counts of sexual abuse by eight boys. He was found not guilty of all charges. His defence cost him $1.9 million.

Mr Evans believes there are serious questions about the investigation into the Easling case and continues to push the Rann Government to establish a Royal Commission type inquiry into the case.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

Speeches- Iain's speeches on the Tom Easling matter in Parliament.

Media Releases- Iain's media releases on Tom Easling.

Article from the ABC - Wednesday, 9th March 2009

MP Raises Questions About Sex Charges Case
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/04/08/2538923.htm

 Article from The Australian- Tuesday, 14th March 2009

Agents 'Posed as Police' in Sex Case
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,25330920-2702,00.html

Over recent years South Australia has suffered many fires, as have other parts of Australia- Victoria being the most recent tragic example.

After each fire there are various forms of reports and commissions that investigate the fire and make recommendations. The ability of Governments to follow the recommendations is mixed.

The Mitcham Hills, and therefore the Davenport electorate, is one of the most fire prone areas in the world.

South Australia regularly suffers from the tragedy of bushfire, as do other parts of , Victoria being the most recent example.

As your elected representative this update aims to provide you with a briefing of the work I have undertaken in relation to fire and the reforms I am proposing.

Public tastings of Perth's desalinated water in Rundle Mall met with wide approval

A Liberal Government will build a desalination plant to guarantee Adelaide’s future water supply.

The plant will take pressure off the River Murray and provide greater security against the impacts of climate change.

The desalination plant, based on a similar plant recently built in Perth, would be located on the metropolitan coast and could produce 45 gigalitres of fresh drinking water – about 22 per cent of Adelaide’s consumption each year.

The Perth plant came into operation in late 2006 and cost just under $400 million.

The desalination plant is the centrepiece and first stage of a Water Action Plan, being developed by the Liberal Opposition as a comprehensive set of water initiatives to be released in the lead up to the 2010 election.

Other proposals already committed to by the Liberals include:

 
▪  Waterproofing the South – up to $23 million of funding;
▪  The Virginia Pipeline Scheme Extension – funding of $2 million;
▪  Legislating to allow companies and councils to access the sewer to recycle water  for  industrial use and to water parks and gardens;
▪  Legalising the use of grey water to increase its use;
▪  Simplifying current laws to allow more rainwater use in new and existing homes; and 
▪  Support for a desalination plant for the Roxby Dam expansion

In an Advertiser phone poll on Tuesday 20 January, 92 per cent of callers supported the Liberal’s desalination proposal.

But the Rann Labor Government has been quick to reject calls for a desalination plant and has not supported other Liberal proposals for water reform.

It seems the government has no plans to invest in alternate water sources.
Instead, the Premier is pinning his hopes on harsher water restrictions.

This approach means under Labor metropolitan water supplies will remain at risk and our reliance on the River Murray will increase.

Adelaide is a garden city. The Liberal Party want to see that reputation retained along with the lifestyle benefits it brings.

A recently released CSIRO report estimates by 2020 average annual flows to the Murray-Darling catchments may reduce by 15 per cent due to climate change and other factors. In addition, the CSIRO predicts drought conditions may be prevalent in nine out of every ten years by 2070.

These predictions highlight why we must commit to developing new water resources and reduce our reliance on the River Murray.

The Liberal team has called on the Rann Government to abandon its plans for the so called temporary weir on the Lower Murray. The weir cannot be justified at this time while better and cheaper options to protect Adelaide’s water supplies exist.

The Rann Government’s temporary weir will cost more than $100 million. Alternatives such as pumping into Adelaide’s reservoirs, building small cofferdams around pump intakes and lowering pump intakes could save Adelaide’s water supply at a fraction of this $100 million price tag.

The Liberal team has also been advised that under the government’s plan up to 700,000 tonnes of rock will be piled into the River to form the wings of the weir. There are serious concerns about the potential environmental harm this will cause.

These and other concerns regarding the permanency of the wings were raised by the Liberal team in Parliament in early February. The newly appointed Minister for Water Security, Minister Maywald, refused to commit to ensuring the wing structures would not become permanent and thus far we have received no advice as to the cost of their removal.

More than 80,000 South Australian small businesses remain burdened with the worst payroll tax regime in the country – with the lowest threshold at only $504,000 and a high rate set at 5.5 per cent.

Some other states do not charge payroll tax until the payroll reaches more than $1 million and Queensland has a rate set at less than 5 per cent.

 
This gives these small businesses a huge advantage over South Australian competitors.
The Rann Government has budgeted to take $840 million in payroll out of businesses this financial year and by the end of this term, that is by 2009-2010, estimates suggest payroll tax will reach nearly one billion dollars per year.

 
This is money that South Australian businesses could have spent on innovation and technology.

It is money that could have enabled South Australian businesses to compete in international markets and money that could have been spent on employing young South Australians. Instead it will be paid in tax.

In 2005 the State Government released its Resource Entitlement Statement and introduced a $30,000 small school grant program. In the 2006 State Budget, all schools within 80km of the Adelaide CBD and each with fewer than 85 students were advised via fax that the program was to be cut.

This loss of funding support will have a significant impact, with some schools set to lose up to $1000 per child from their discretionary budget.

 
The Rann Government has spent more than $800,000 on signage for the School Pride campaign yet to achieve a saving of just $600,000, children in small schools outside of metropolitan Adelaide are going to be heavily penalised.

Many school Principals and Governing Councils are concerned they will have to cut art, drama, dance, music, language and physical education programs due to the funding cut. In the past the grants have also been used to support student support programs, subsidise camps and excursions, fund computers and IT equipment and the maintenance of building and equipment.

The importance of these funds to small schools far outweighs the comparatively minor $600, 000 savings the Labor Government stand to make. Smaller schools, particularly in small communities such as the Hills, act as a focal point for local social activities and they bring communities together.

The Rann Government’s agreement with Mobil is unacceptable. It gives the company until 2009 to decide if it will permanently close Pt Stanvac and provides a further 10 years – until 2019 – for rehabilitation of the site.

Under the terms of the recently released agreement if the company fails to follow through, it is the government, and ultimately South Australian taxpayers, that may be left to pay for remediation of the site with legal action being the only probable way to recover the costs from Mobil.

 
The Rann Government has allowed the bulk of the land to remain unusable for 13 more years and has left the local community with no certainty about its future use. Job opportunities in the south are being stifled by lack of suitable land and one of the best, undeveloped industrial sites in the city is in limbo.

The Labor Government budgeted to employ an additional 1,135 public servants but because of mismanagement the number of additional public sector employees has now reached 8,885 more than were budgeted for.

The cost of these additional 7,750 full time equivalent staff is estimated at more than $500 million per year or more than $2 billion over the four-year budget period.
Unfortunately, only a relatively small percentage of these additional public sector employees are police, doctors, nurses and teachers.

In fact, Auditor General’s Reports, government media releases and documents obtained under Freedom of Information reveal that the net increase of teachers, nurses, doctors, and police might be as low as 1000.

The South Australian community, businesses and visitors are continually frustrated by this state’s illogical and inconsistent shop trading hours.

In Adelaide on a public holiday the city’s major shopping precinct ‘Rundle Mall’ and other major shopping centres remain closed while Glenelg, Habour Town and small shops can open.

Trading hours are more flexible in other states and visitors that come to Adelaide are often confused and dismayed that our major shopping precincts like Rundle Mall are closed on public holidays.

Shop trading hours in South Australia are partly deregulated but this has left the current system in confusion.

An Evans Liberal Government will remove the confusion and open South Australia for business by allowing retailers to decide when they open.
In particular the option will be available for retailers to open on any day they choose except:

• Christmas Day;
• Good Friday;
• Easter Sunday; and
• Until 1pm on Anzac Day.
  

Under an Evans Liberal Government, retail businesses will be free to choose when they open;
South Australians and visitors to our state will enjoy more flexible shopping hours, and
The retail sector will have the opportunity to employ many more employees.

At a time when South Australia’s youth unemployment rate is continuing to rise these changes to shop trading hours could make a positive difference.

Protection will remain the same for small business in major shopping centres by maintaining the current level of core opening hours.

Under the Labor Government the transport portfolio has had three ministers and three Chief Executive Officers in the past four years. This lack of continuity and leadership combined with ministerial mismanagement has contributed to numerous blowouts.

All of these problems are the government’s own making – it is their management that is to blame:

• Northern Expressway – blown out by $250 million to $550 million.
• The South Road/Anzac Highway underpass was originally costed at $65 million but Minister Conlon has now budgeted $140 million for the project.
• South Road/Port Road/Grange Road tunnel – the government will not advise of the costs involved but refuses to deny the blow out may have reached $250 compared to the original $122 million commitment.

The government has spent $100 million extra on opening bridges and will spend $31 million on a tramline but little additional money is being spent addressing the $200 million road maintenance backlog.

Under the current stamp duty regime in South Australia home buyers are paying more for the average home ($280,000) than in states such as Queensland and New South Wales where the average home costs $10,000 less.

Over the life of an average housing loan this adds another $14,000 to the cost and brings the total impost to about $20,000.

 
Recent discussions have also focused on land supply. A restricted land supply, as is the case here in South Australia, cannot help but drive up land prices and that is why the Liberals are calling for a review of the urban growth boundary.

It is an embarrassment that the former Le Cornu site on O’Connell Street in North Adelaide has been vacant for 20 years.

In an effort to broker an immediate solution the Liberal’s have offered bi-partisan support to ensure that politics is removed from any negotiations so they can continue in the best interest of the state. As yet the government has not responded to the offer.

The Rann Government’s withdrawal of funds for the Be Active-Let’s Go program to be replaced by the Premier’s Active Challenge is at a high cost to students, and a cheap way for the Premier to promote himself. 

 
In the midst of an obesity and diabetes crisis the government has cut $4 million per annum from the Be Active-Let’s Go program replacing it with the Premier’s Active Challenge -  a $400, 000 publicity stunt for the Premier.

A national report, Australia’s Health 2006 has revealed that obesity cost the Australian community $21 billion a year and lists South Australia as the ‘worst’ state with 19.6 per cent of us suffering from obesity.

 
The Premier’s own State’s Strategic plan highlights the importance of South Australians to be more physical in order to fight the obesity epidemic.

The Be Active-Let’s Go Program that provided ongoing professional teaching and learning development programs aimed at ensuring inactive students ‘get moving’, as well as funds for sporting equipment, transport and uniforms.

The axing of this exercise program is an insult to schools, students and parents.

The Liberal team has called on the Rann Government to abandon its plans for the tram extension to North Terrace. The tramline extension is not only a gross waste of $31 million of taxpayers’ money, which could be better spent on water infrastructure, it is also an environmental embarrassment.

The tram extension would increase inner city traffic congestion, add a minute to commuting times along King William St and increase greenhouse gas emissions.

Mature trees, such as those doomed to removal, are vital to negating the greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change and provide scarce habitat for birds and other animals in the city.

With 60,000 traffic movements a day along King William St and North Tce, one minute of extra travelling time will equal an extra 1,000 hours a day of driving within the city centre and a measurable increase in the quantity of greenhouse gases entering our atmosphere.

The Liberal Party has tabled a petition Parliament signed by 2,753 people against the tram line, has recently organised a protest against the removal of trees for the tram line and a recent poll showed that 71 per cent of people do not support the removal of trees within the city.

Not only is it going to remove beautiful trees along North Terrace and King William Street but  is going to waste $31 million of taxpayer funds which could be much better spent elsewhere.

Unfortunately the Rann Government has completely ignored public opposition to the tramline extension.