Supply Bill 2025
Representing a community like Dunstan is both an immense privilege and a responsibility I take very seriously. The best part of this job is getting out and listening to people on the doorstep, at the shops, at school pickups, at local businesses and community events. It is where the real priorities come from and it is what should guide everything we do.
My community tells me they are very appreciative of how accessible I am, because my community likes to let me know what is on their mind, and I respect and, of course, encourage and welcome that. We are a community that is proud of its heritage, with strong values and a deep investment in the wellbeing of our people.
When I think about the role of government and what our work in this place is really about, I think about the people I meet every week in my electorate. I think about the families I see taking their kids to school, the local business owners who have been in the area for decades, the new businesses that regularly choose to open their business in our electorate, the people enjoying retirement and the young people thinking about their future and how they will get a start in life.
That is why the Supply Bill is so important, because it ensures that the essential services we all depend on—health, education, jobs, housing and more—continue. It keeps the lights on and the doors open in the services that make our state function. Australia has the best health system in the world, and while we have our challenges, as we adapt to an ageing population and other factors that have an impact on healthcare delivery, I am particularly proud of the massive investment the Malinauskas government is making in health.
Recognising this challenge, this government has invested well over $7.1 billion, including a planned more than 600 extra hospital beds and, at the same time, a substantial investment in addressing demand pressures and, importantly, an extra 1,400 health workers have joined the system, including nearly 700 nurses and 330 doctors.
One of the most significant investments in our local health system has been the brand-new Norwood Ambulance Station located on the corner of Portrush Road and Magill Road. This investment is not just in a building, it is a commitment to safety, responsiveness and care. I have spoken to locals who now feel that extra peace of mind knowing that we have an ambulance station in the east.
I also want to recognise the paramedics and ambulance officers who work in incredibly high-pressure situations with compassion and professionalism. They do not get to choose when or where they are needed, but with the resources we are now putting in place, including an extra 278 paramedics, we are backing them the way they back us.
Equally transformative has been the introduction of the Norwood 24/7 pharmacy. I have heard from parents who needed medication for their child in the middle of the night and were so relieved when they could get it when they needed it. I have been there with young children, and I know that the alternative was often heading into the Women's and Children's. I have heard from carers, shift workers and elderly residents who now have much better access to the medications and advice they need. I have used it myself. There is no doubt it has made a big difference for our community. That is what good government should be: responding to people's needs with practical solutions.
One of the things I find most rewarding as the member for Dunstan is spending time in our local schools. Whether it is presentations, plays, book week or talking about leadership to student leaders, every time I visit our local schools I walk away smiling having seen so much enthusiasm and spark emanating from the beautiful, bright students. At Norwood Primary School, principal Mel Evans leads a school that is warm, inclusive and full of energy.
The students are engaged and curious, and the school's connection with the wider community is strong. You can feel it when you walk through the gates that this is a school that genuinely values every child. My own daughter was a student there, and she is now doing so well in high school because of the excellent grounding she received at Norwood Primary School.
Trinity Gardens Primary School is also doing outstanding work. Under the leadership of principal Brenton Conradi, the school is focused on both academic achievement and fantastic student wellbeing. I have attended student performances and, in fact, the Premier and I went on a morning run with these beautiful kids. I have met the parents and spoken to teachers, and what always strikes me is the strong sense of pride and shared purpose. Whether it is sustainability projects, their kitchen garden, the beautiful produce they make from their own kitchen garden, their inclusiveness or leadership opportunities for students, Trinity Gardens is preparing young people to thrive not just in school but in life.
I also want to mention East Adelaide School and Marryatville Primary School. Both are integral parts of our public education system and each is making a unique and meaningful contribution to our community—their local communities. The staff at these schools are doing a remarkable job. They are not just delivering the curriculum, they are creating learning environments where children are safe, challenged and cared for.
Then there is Marryatville High School, a real jewel in our public education system. Every time I visit Marryatville High School I am impressed by the way principal Julie Ferguson and her team approach education. It is thoughtful, it is innovative and it is grounded in respect and student wellbeing. Whether it is in the music centre, the science labs or on the sporting field, Marryatville students are being encouraged to stretch their thinking and believe in themselves, and are achieving at an incredibly high level.
The parents and students in the Dunstan community can be confident they are getting the best education money can buy. These are not just good schools; they are producing confident, socially aware and ambitious young people who will shape South Australia's future, and they do it because they are supported by dedicated staff, active families, and a government and a local member that believes in the power of public education.
When I think of our children's future I also think of the importance of secure, well-paid jobs. Nothing is more important to a family's stability than having secure, meaningful and well-paid work. I have spoken to young people starting their apprenticeships, mid-career workers, and small business owners working hard to build a thriving business, and they all want the same thing: a fair shot, a steady income, and confidence about the future.
Under this government we have a strong economy and a strong jobs market. We are investing in the industries of the future—renewable energy, health, education, advanced manufacturing—while also ensuring our traditional sectors have the support they need to thrive, with the most notable recent example being the massive transformative commitment of $2.4 billion to secure the future of the Whyalla Steelworks.
In Dunstan, local jobs are being supported by investment in future industries and targeted grants. Small businesses benefit from our incredibly liveable city, with sensible and strategic medium density housing creating more foot traffic. There is a real sense of energy in our local economy right now. The recent Eastside Business Awards just demonstrated that, with businesses rewarded each year for 20 plus years of business and many businesses receiving awards over multiple years, demonstrating their success and support in the community.
In fact, not only is South Australia the best mainland state in which to do business, the City of Norwood Payneham and St Peters has been recognised as the best council area in Australia, out of 58 council areas, in which to do business. However, we do not take that as a job done. We need to ensure we maintain momentum so that workers, whether they are public servants, tradies, educators or carers, can continue to do the vital work they do.
One issue of continuing importance is our community housing. We know that stable, affordable housing is the foundation for everything else. Without it, people cannot focus on their businesses, their jobs, their studies or their health. That is why the Malinauskas government is prioritising housing, not just as a policy issue but as a moral responsibility. We know we need more supply, and that is why the government is pulling out all stops to open up record amounts of land for new homes.
The importance of this cannot be overstated, because what this means in practice is less urban infill in our suburbs. This is important because it means we can be more strategic in looking at how we implement medium density housing, ensuring it is done in a thoughtful and well-planned way, and making sure we protect our heritage and design values in the process. These are issues that have come up time and again for me. People have asked for these policy areas to be addressed, and they have been.
We are building more public and affordable housing. We are helping first-home buyers enter the market, and we are working closely with the community housing sector to help those most in need. It means that when a child falls ill in the middle of the night, the pharmacist is at hand. It means that when children go to school, they are getting an excellent education locally. It means that young people can believe that they can get into the housing market again. The progress we have made in jobs, in health, in education and in housing goes on.
Supply means communities like Dunstan—vibrant, engaged and full of potential—continue to receive the support they deserve. I want to thank the teachers, nurses, paramedics, public servants, construction workers, carers, small business owners and all those who keep our state running. The Supply Bill is about making sure they can continue to do their work without disruption and with the backing of the parliament.
There is more work to do, but we are on the right track. I am proud of what we have achieved already, I am proud to be part of a government that listens, is thoughtful, that acts and leads with compassion. I will continue to work every day for the people of Dunstan and for the vision of South Australia we all believe in—respect for the past, an eye on the future, a great way of life, and full of opportunity. I commend the bill to the house.