Check back here through the day for updates from the campaign trail.
3.17pm Marine park management
Labor is promising an extra $4 million to manage SA’s 19 marine parks.
The policy includes “doubling the funding for monitoring and surveying activities, more money to develop research partnerships and getting more community members involved in marine parks”.
Also on the environment, labor says it will invest $8.9 million over four years to encourage more people to use metropolitan parks and reserves.
Premier Jay Weatherill said Labor would upgrade facilities in the Onkaparinga National Park (better walking trails), Parra Wirra Recreation Park (“modernising facilities”), Anstey Hill Recreation Park (a cycling trail hub) and Cobbler Creek Recreation Park (a network of cycling trails).
12.10pm Racing upgrade for Murray Bridge
Liberal leader Steven Marshall is promising $15 million for the Murray Bridge Racing Club’s Gifford Hill development.
Marshall said the money would “kick-start” the development, which is a joint project between the State and Commonwealth Governments, the Murray Bridge Racing Club, Thoroughbred Racing SA and the private sector.
“The Gifford Hill project will include a new state of the art racecourse with an all-weather track, associated equine training and racing facilities with a multi-purpose function centre.
“The project will allow the existing racetrack in the heart of Murray Bridge to be utilised for new housing, with another housing development earmarked adjacent to the new track at Gifford Hill.
“The development could lead to more than 1,000 direct jobs being created if the Murray Bridge Council proceeds with other development opportunities created by this investment.”
Marshall’s federal Liberal colleague Jamie Briggs said the feds would commit $5 million towards the redevelopment.
11.20am Announcements and clues
Liberal leader Steven Marshall is joining federal minister Jamie Briggs in Murray Bridge for an announcement this morning. Details as they come to hand.
Something to ponder – the Liberals have been very measured about their rhetoric on public service cuts, with Marshall setting an upper limit on total cuts.
But this morning, health spokesman Rob Lucas has dusted off the “axe” metaphor in relation to cutting centralised health bureaucracy (see 8.40am post below).
9.03am LGA continues to oppose rate cap
Catching up on some news from late yesterday – the Local Government Association held a special meeting to consider Liberal leader Steven Marshall’s plan to cap council rate rises.
The LGA “overwhelmingly” voted to continue its opposition to the the plan.
Acting President Lorraine Rosenberg aid the meeting “reaffirmed LGA Policy which opposes central interference in local community decisions”.
“I will be contacting Steven Marshall to advise him of the outcome of the board meeting and will be calling meetings with minor parties in the Legislative Council to raise our concerns,” she said.
Concerns include the capacity of councils to support local community groups.
“For example a number of councils have assisted sporting clubs to deal with significant increases in water bills. How will councils be able to do that if their rates are limited to cost increases in their past services?
“If councils don’t help then clubs would go to the wall and as most sporting clubs are on council land, the council would then have to pick up oval maintenance or children would miss out.”
8.52am Domestic violence and body image
Status of Women minister Gail Gago has promised $15,000 for a digital campaign to encourage young women and girls to value themselves for who they are – not how they appear. The program will be based on a successful program developed in New York.
Gago has also announced that Labor would introduce a user-pays system for domestic violence perpetrators who are required to undertake intervention programs. Labor will also fund the development of a domestic violence serial offender database.
8.40am Liberals promise to axe Health bureaucracy
Liberal health spokesman Rob Lucas says a Marshall Government would “take an axe” to the “over-centralised” health bureaucracy and decentralise decision-making.
Boards would be reintroduced to govern each of the Local Health Networks, and they would be given significant powers and responsibilities to manage health services.
“They will be provided with budgets and contracts together with requirements to meet key performance indicators,” he said.
7am Labor candidate’s assault conviction
The Liberals have hit back at Labor’s underwhelming Wokinabox “revelations” about Liberal leader Steven Marshall.
The Advertiser reports that Labor candidate for the country seat of Giles, Eddie Hughes, was convicted of assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest and loitering, more than 30 years ago.
The Liberals’ Rob Lucas wants Premier Jay Weatherill to dump Hughes – which, this close to the election, would essentially lead to Labor losing a seat. This issue will likely dominate media coverage today.
