Supply Bill 2023 – Grievance

Tuesday 30 May 2023 

S.E. ANDREWS (Gibson) (12:32): I rise to speak on the grievance debate for the Supply Bill. I would like to spend the next few moments speaking on some of the activity in my community over the last few months. Kicking off the year, in February my community was outraged when we lost another beautiful significant gum tree. It was not because the tree was unhealthy or a storm came and knocked some branches down, but it was to make way for a car yard—the corporate greed of Jarvis Toyota who bought a property on Brighton Road in full knowledge that the significant tree was on that site, and had been for 130 years. 

There are plenty of businesses as you drive along Brighton Road that do manage significant gum trees on their site. Indeed, the business before Jarvis Toyota was more than happy to work around having a significant tree on its site. But, instead of managing this tree, Jarvis Toyota thought that they would take on Holdfast Bay city council and, with the aid of a King's Counsel, won the right to have the tree removed. It was so disappointing that, rather than doing the right thing by the community and incorporating this tree into their development, they fought to get rid of it. I supported the community at a rally at the site and fielded lots of calls from distressed community members. 

Of course, significant gums are not only a thing of beauty. They provide shade, they help clean our air and they are also a habitat for birds and, in this case, a koala in years past. In fact, when the tree was cut down there are videos of a flock of birds fleeing the tree for safety. Companies these days are of the view that they can clear their conscience by planting some trees to offset the loss of one significant tree, yet we must ask: how do saplings planted elsewhere sufficiently make up for this loss of habitat? 

I would like to thank everyone who contacted my office and tried to save this tree. Its removal strengthened my resolve to fight for better laws to protect our trees. The current tree and planning laws have been one issue that is consistently raised with me and one I am more than happy to advocate for. 

My community is looking forward to seeing the results of the review of the planning laws from Minister Champion and wants to see more sensible planning laws that pay due regard to the environment and our significant trees. In Gibson, we have lost too many beautiful trees over the years as infill development and corporate greed have bulldozed them in the name of progress—progress that is increasing our urban heat islands that we see and feel across our suburbs. 

I would like to thank the minister for meeting with my constituents at a street-corner meeting to discuss our planning laws and for providing the opportunity for residents to provide feedback on the review of the planning laws. I will never stop fighting for sensible planning laws that protect our environment. 

Another activity happening in my electorate is walking football. Members may not be aware that walking football is a sport that several hundred people play across Adelaide and is a football competition aimed at those aged over 50 years. It is a lot of fun to play and ensures that footballers like me can keep playing the sport we love forever, although I am not quite ready to hang up my competitive boots for Westminster just yet. 

The team at Walking Football are a delightful group and I was glad to join them in a game earlier this year so I could get a true sense of what it is like. I can tell you that you might be walking but it is a hell of a workout. Obviously, the health benefits for this age group are considerable and, of course, there are social benefits as well. 

I want to congratulate Derek Finch, who is the External Competition Secretary for Walking Football Adelaide, for his enthusiasm and passion for his sport and ensuring that it receives appropriate recognition and funding. I was very pleased to see them receive a $4,000 Ageing Well grant to purchase equipment to support walking football across Adelaide. 

It is important that we support all our sporting clubs wherever possible, particularly those that do not have a high profile but still provide vital fitness, socialisation and support opportunities for people in our community. I would like to thank everyone involved in walking football for their commitment to their sport and ensuring that it continues to grow. 

Other activities of recent time have been those focused around ANZAC Day. I began these on ANZAC Day eve in Gibson at the Marion RSL, where I was joined by my colleagues the members for Elder and Badcoe to start the reflection as young Scouts guarded the memorial from 3pm through to dawn. Thanks to Ethan for helping me to lay a token at the youth vigil and I thank all Scouts, their leaders, parents and caregivers for their dedication to our fallen heroes. It was a moving ceremony, and it is always interesting to chat with the Scouts about ANZAC Day and what it means to them. 

Of course, we all rose early on ANZAC Day morning, and I was back at the Marion RSL for the dawn service. It was a fabulous turnout to honour our veterans and those who made the ultimate sacrifice. I was pleased to able to speak at this event and lay a wreath and I thank everyone involved in the organising and presentation of this ceremony. 

I would also like to thank the Marion Football Club, which provided a delicious barbecue breakfast that extended through to lunchtime. The Marion Rams Football Club volunteered their time on ANZAC Day so veterans and their families could take the time they deserve to spend with each other. Their barbecue was a great success and recently on a Friday night they presented a cheque of $2,000 to the Marion RSL and Marion RSL Bowling Club. Following the service, the member for Elder and I did a shift on the bar once again to support the club. I would like to thank Kenny and Chris who showed me how to pour a beer. It was fantastic to be able to support this community in this way. 

At the same time, there was a fabulous service going on at the Brighton RSL where Rod Murray organised and MC'd his final dawn service before his retirement from the role. It is always a fabulous service at Brighton, on the coastline. It is an incredible backdrop watching the Brighton Surf Lifesaving Club out on the water. It was good to be able to visit the RSL later that morning and watch the very enthusiastic two-up and speak to some veterans and hear their stories. 

Just prior to ANZAC Day, I was pleased to present a new Australian flag to Rob, the President of the Marion RSL, and I want to thank Nadia Clancy MP for making this happen. Additionally, I was proud to be at the ANZAC round game with the Brighton Rugby Union Football Club, where all Brighton teams won on the day, though to be fair that is not an unusual event, as it is such an incredible club. 

I am grateful to all the volunteers in my electorate, whether it is the volunteers at the Brighton and Marion RSLs; the parents and past players who put their hands up at the footy, rugby and soccer clubs or walking football teams; the surf lifesavers; the volunteers in the service clubs, environmental and arts groups; or all those who assist anyone in need with meals, clothing or toys for children. 

I was pleased to be able to start National Volunteer Week recently with VollieCare volunteers at the Flinders Medical Centre. These fabulous volunteers make the whole patient experience better by giving so generously of their time and skills. In addition, they are joined by some wonderful dogs. I got to meet Winnie the pup, who provides patients such joy and certainly gets many pats on their rounds. 

I would also like to take a moment to thank one of the other groups that assist our community, and that is the St Jude's Anglican church at Brighton. The St Jude's team hosts community meals each week where community members can come together for a meal but also social connection. The meal is the price of a donation for those who can afford it and free for those who cannot. Certainly at this time of year a warm meal is appreciated, but it is also really important to be able to have a chat, have some connection. 

You might look around Brighton and only see those who are doing well, but there are many people struggling and living in their cars and having a really tough time. I really appreciate the work of all the volunteers at St Jude's who support those in our community who are finding these times so hard. They are led there by Sophie, the reverend, and coordinator Virginia Summers, who make sure they spend their times having conversations with those in need and identifying any support that might be required. St Jude's also has the St Jude's Community Pantry, where those in need can take what they need at any time, with all of the goods being donated by the community. 

I would like to pay my special respects to everyone who volunteers in our community. It really does make it a fabulous place to live.