Superannuation Funds Management Corporation of South Australia (Investment in Russian Assets) Amendment Bill
Thursday 7 July 2022
Ms CLANCY (Elder) (16:10): For over 130 days, South Australians and the broader local community have watched in horror as Russia invades Ukraine. Our televisions and mobile phones have been covered with images and footage of conflict and destruction we are unable to explain to our children or even understand ourselves. The unjustifiable aggression shown by Russian forces over these four months has drawn strong condemnation from the global community, and rightfully so.
Over 4½ thousand innocent Ukrainian civilians have had their lives stolen from them by the hands of a violent authoritarian regime. It has been reported that many deaths have come at close quarters by Russian armed forces. As of 26 June, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights verified that 330 children have been killed since the invasion began. Three hundred and thirty future teachers, nurses, cleaners, coaches, thinkers and world changers have been taken from the Ukrainian people far too soon.
This barbaric crusade of violence and suffering has created a humanitarian crisis, as Ukrainians look to their neighbours in their time of need. The United Nations has suggested that as many as 12 million people have fled their homes since the invasion began, with more than five million seeking refuge in neighbouring countries. As we watch the resilience and bravery of the Ukrainian people in the face of such evil, I am filled with hope as a young nation led by their president fights for their sovereignty and their freedom.
Democracies such as ours must do everything they can to ensure the prosperity of our global community. As the people of Ukraine are showing the world, injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. I was proud to stand as a candidate with the Malinauskas Labor team, who committed to amending the Superannuation Funds Management Corporation of South Australia Act 1995 to enable ministerial direction to enable the removal of state government funds from Russian assets. I maintain that pride as I stand here today as a member of this place.
This bill will divest $60 million worth of Australian workers' super held in Russian assets by Funds SA. By amending the act, we will effectively end state government funds and the superannuation of the state's public sector workers being invested in Russian assets. I am pleased that, in addition to this bill, our government has shown support to the Ukrainian people in other ways. Some time ago, the government received a request from the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations, who reached out seeking a donation of medical supplies to assist communities in Ukraine. I am so pleased this substantial medical assistance was provided.
The Malinauskas government has provided over 20,000 items of medical equipment. Included in the shipments are items that can be used in their hospitals to support injured civilians or soldiers, including masks for adults and children, first aid and wound dressings, pulse oximeters, emergency medical kits, nasogastric tubes, hypodermic syringes and many more items. These pallets of medical devices and materials were dispatched in early April and arrived in Ukraine some weeks ago.
They are now being used in hospitals across Ukraine by doctors, nurses and other clinical staff. Thank you to SA Health, the Minister for Health and the Premier for helping to make this happen. This equipment is supporting innocent people who are suffering because of this invasion. More life-saving medical equipment will also soon be on its way to Ukraine to support local hospitals and healthcare workers, with 70 defibrillators, which have previously been used by our ambos to save South Australian lives, being flown to Ukraine over the coming weeks to save Ukrainian lives.
There is something extra special about these defibrillators: the children of South Australia's Ukrainian communities have drawn handwritten messages of support on them. This important donation was organised by the SA Ambulance Service and the Australian Defence Force will deliver each box of urgent aid amid a desperate need in Ukraine for medical equipment during the conflict.
The defibrillators will be deployed to field hospitals, enabling health workers to deliver a shock to patients experiencing cardiac arrest to induce a normal heart rhythm and potentially save hundreds of lives through this conflict. The dual heart monitoring devices will be shipped to Ukraine in batches, along with rechargeable batteries. I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the support provided to Ukraine by a company in my electorate of Elder, Micro-X, located in Tonsley.
The Tonsley precinct is such an incredible hub of innovation and Micro-X is no exception, with their innovative medical and defence products using world-leading technology. I was able to see some of these products during my visit a couple of weeks ago, including their bedside X-ray units, their Rovers. The Rover, designed and manufactured in South Australia, began by supporting trauma imaging in military medical facilities.
Its lightweight and rugged construction means the medical staff can use the imaging machines in emergency settings, particularly in deployed and temporary hospital environments. The Micro-X Rover is six times lighter than conventional mobile X-ray machines and its design means that it can easily go where it is most needed. Micro-X partnered with four US-based non-government organisations, who purchased the Rovers at a discount and arranged their transport to Ukraine.
There are currently 11 of the South Australian made Rovers over there and, knowing the make-up of some of that workforce at Micro-X, it is highly likely that former Holdens' workers played a part in their manufacturing. These Rovers are located primarily in Central Ukraine, in cities that have been exposed to fighting including Kyiv. Since their delivery, Micro-X has been in contact with the NGOs who have reported that the Rovers have been life saving, as it means people can get X-rays when they arrive at a hospital and be diagnosed more quickly, instead of waiting to be taken to an imaging room.
It is really heartening to hear and know that a South Australian product is making such a difference overseas. Our government's donation of defibrillators, the previous donation of medical equipment and this bill show that our government's stands with the people of Ukraine, and I commend the bill to the house.
