SA Parliament resumes Tuesday with fuel prices, plastics and the shocking death of Ann Marie Smith set to dominate debate

State Parliament is getting back to a normal after weeks of coronavirus debate as single-use plastics, fuel prices and the shocking death of Ann Marie Smith top the agenda.

Plans to start up a new fuel watch scheme for motorists is high on the agenda as State Parliament returns on Monday, as the Opposition also prepares to crank up pressure over the circumstances leading to the shocking death of disabled woman Ann Marie Smith.

After weeks of interrupted sitting and sessions dominated by debate on emergency responses to the coronavirus health crisis, the State Government will seek to progress other plans that had stalled.

First up for the Government is plans to restrict the manufacture and sale of some single-use plastics, which has general support from the Opposition.

Attorney-General Vickie Chapman is also pushing her new real-time fuel pricing scheme, which would enable a trial that requires station owners to report their charges so customers can bargain hunt.

However, independent MP Frances Bedford has proposed her own plan that would lock prices for 24 hours.

Katherine Ammear, the organiser of an online vigil for Ann Marie Smith, with a woven cane chair on the steps of Parliament House. Ms Smith spent the last year of her life in a cane chair. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

“In simple terms, so-called real-time pricing is a waste of time unless consumers have enough time to take advantage of cheap prices,” she told Parliament.

“Even with real-time fuel price monitoring, consumers are unable to uncover the information and symmetry that stack the deck in favour of major retailers.”

Labor’s front bench met on Monday and was understood to have been discussing the matter ahead of the sitting week. The Opposition also holds concerns about Ms Chapman’s moves to overhaul Freedom of Information laws, fearing the plan could add more secrecy than it removes.

Labor is expected to heavily target Human Services Minister Michelle Lensink in Question Time over the downsizing of community visitor scheme, which previously checked in on disability clients, and what could have been done to prevent the death of Ms Smith.

Her death is the subject of police and coronial investigations, and sparked the creation of a Government taskforce headed by former Dignity for Disability MP Kelly Vincent.

Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas said: “Labor’s primary focus when Parliament resumes will be advocating for our legislation to bring back the Community Visitor Scheme’s access to people in the care of non-government organisations”.

“Following the tragic death of Ann Marie Smith, it is vital Parliament rights the wrong of the Government’s decision to reduce the Community Visitor’s access to some of our most vulnerable people,” he said.