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Record of Service

A structured list of the firm's public contributions and advisory milestones.

Legislation

Since entering Parliament, Connie Bonaros has led, introduced, and influenced a significant body of legislation across justice, health, gambling reform, and cost of living.

Below is a verified record of key bills progressed through the South Australian Parliament.

Bill / Legislative Area Date / Period Supporting Explanation

Passed Legislation

2025

Criminal Law (High Risk Offenders) Amendment Bill

Strengthened detention powers for high-risk offenders, including those responsible for serious unprovoked attacks.

2024

Summary Offences (Invasive Images and Depictions) Amendment Bill

Introduced Australia-first laws criminalising deepfake invasive images with significant penalties.

2024

Education and Children's Services (Sports Vouchers) Amendment Bill

Expanded access to sports vouchers, supporting greater participation in physical activity for children.

2024

Gambling Administration (Limitation on Advertising) Amendment Bill

Restricted gambling advertising, delivering protections against harmful and predatory marketing.

2023

Victims of Crime (Compensation) Amendment Bill

Removed sentencing discounts in compensation calculations, strengthening outcomes for victims.

2022

Statutes Amendment (Stealthing and Consent) Bill

Criminalised stealthing (non-consensual condom removal), positioning South Australia as a national leader.

2022

Tobacco and E-Cigarette Products Amendment Bill

Strengthened restrictions on tobacco and vaping products, particularly to protect young people.

2020

Statutes Amendment (Spit Hood Prohibition) Bill

Delivered a landmark ban on spit hoods in all detention settings.

2020

Dangerous Substances (LPG Cylinder Labelling) Amendment Bill

Mandated safety warning labels on LPG cylinders following a fatal incident.

2020

Southern State Superannuation (Choice of Fund) Amendment Bill

Gave public sector workers the right to choose their superannuation fund.

2020

Coroners (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill

Strengthened the investigative powers of the State Coroner and improved accountability.

2020

Assisted Reproductive Treatment (Review Recommendations) Amendment Bill

Established a donor conception register, improving access to genetic information.

2019

Criminal Law Consolidation (Child-Like Sex Dolls Prohibition) Amendment Bill

Criminalised the possession and distribution of child-like sex dolls and related exploitation material.

Introduced Legislation & Ongoing Reform

2025

Period Products and Facilities (Access) Bill

Seeks to provide free access to period products and essential facilities.

2025

Statutes Amendment (Legal Profession Review Recommendations) Bill

Implements key reforms to strengthen oversight of the legal profession.

2024

Statutes Amendment (Gambling – Mandatory Pre-Commitment System) Bill

Proposes mandatory pre-commitment systems to reduce gambling harm.

2024

Statutes Amendment (Gambling – Opening Hours and Signage) Bill

Aims to restrict venue operating hours and strengthen harm-reduction signage.

2024

Independent Commission Against Corruption Amendment Bill

Implements recommendations from the ICAC legislative review.

2024

Education and Children's Services (Asbestos Removal) Amendment Bill

Proposed mandatory asbestos removal in schools to improve safety standards.

2024

Parliamentary Committees Bill

Seeks to modernise and reform the parliamentary committee system.

2024

Parliamentary Committees (Referral of Petitions) Amendment Bill

Enables community petitions to be formally referred to parliamentary committees.

2022, reintroduced

Gender Equality Bill

Proposes establishment of a Commissioner for Gender Equality and action plans.

2021

Education and Children's Services (Mobile Phones in Schools) Amendment Bill

Proposed banning mobile phones in schools to support student wellbeing.

2020

Statutes Amendment (Mandatory Reporting) Bill

Strengthens reporting obligations to better protect vulnerable children.

2020

Road Traffic (Drug Screening) Amendment Bill

Proposed reforms to align drug-driving laws with drink-driving standards.

2020

Statutes Amendment (Free Menstrual Hygiene Products) Bill

Addresses period poverty by providing free menstrual products in schools.

Advocacy & Parliamentary Action

Beyond legislation, Connie Bonaros has driven change through sustained parliamentary advocacy, negotiations, and motions that have delivered tangible outcomes for South Australians.

Gambling Harm Reduction – Led sustained advocacy resulting in restrictions on gambling advertising on public transport and ongoing reforms to reduce gambling harm.

Marine Environment & Algal Bloom Response – Secured recognition of marine environmental disasters within emergency frameworks and delivered support for affected industries.

Mental Health Support for Regional Communities – Advocated for targeted mental health funding for communities impacted by environmental and economic pressures.

Health System & GP Access Reform – Promoted practical solutions to reduce pressure on hospitals by improving access to primary care.

Cost of Living Relief – Advanced measures aimed at easing financial pressure on households through systemic reform.

Justice System Reform & Victim Protections – Consistently advocated for stronger victim rights, fair sentencing, and improved court system transparency.

Marine Parks & Fishing Industry Protections – Brokered outcomes balancing environmental protection with the sustainability of commercial and recreational fishing industries.

Country of Origin Labelling (Seafood) – Long-term advocacy contributing to stronger labelling standards supporting consumers and local producers.

Education Access & Equity – Secured improved outcomes for students, particularly those from regional and low socio-economic backgrounds.

Emergency Powers Oversight (COVID-19) – Ensured accountability and scrutiny of government decision-making during the pandemic.

Motions

A summary record of influential motions successfully advanced by Connie Bonaros during her time as a Member of the Legislative Council, within the South Australian Parliament, categorised by policy domain.

Social and Health Policy

Mar 2024

Regional Water Security and Management Motion

Agreed – Successfully passed motion calling for an independent audit of South Australia’s rural water infrastructure to ensure long-term sustainability.

Sep 2023

Small Business Support and Recovery Motion

Amended and agreed to – Proposed legislative framework to provide immediate financial relief to regional businesses during economic downturns.

17/10/2018

Child Protection Workers

Agreed

25/9/2019

Lymphoedema and SA Health

Agreed

13/11/2019

Provision of Sanitary Products for Women and Girls

Agreed

3/2/2021

Violence Against Women

Agreed

17/3/2021

Gendered Violence

Agreed

26/5/2021

National Road Safety Week

Amended and agreed to

19/6/2024

Unmet Mental Health Needs Report

Agreed

19/6/2024

Payroll Tax Relief Measures

Agreed

Various Dates

Period Poverty and Facilities Access (supportive motions)

Various Dates

Governance, Committees, and Reform

Nov 2024

Motion for Transparency in Government Procurement

Moved – A critical motion aimed at increasing the public visibility of state-funded infrastructure contracts and advisory firm expenditures.

Oct 2023

Establishment of State Committee on Digital Ethics

Agreed – Motion to create a cross-party committee to oversee the ethical deployment of AI in public service delivery.

15/5/2019

Select Committee on the Effectiveness of the System of Committees of the SA Parliament

Agreed

1/6/2022

Select Committee on Health Services in SA

Agreed – re-established (originally agreed 5/2/2020)

4/6/2025

Equal Opportunity Commission Inquiry into Local Government

Moved

20/3/2024

Payroll Tax Amnesty for Independent General Practitioners

Agreed

15/5/2024

Referral of Payroll Tax to SA Productivity Commission

Agreed

Cultural and Public Recognition

1/8/2018

Forest Fires in Greece

Agreed

6/12/2018

Women’s Suffrage in New Zealand

Agreed

5/6/2019

Retirement of State Coroner Mark Johns

Amended and agreed

19/6/2019

Abdulla Zeinab and Trans Am Bike Race

Agreed

29/4/2020

Chief Superintendent Joanne Shanahan and Tania McNeill

Agreed

30/8/2023

Southern Ocean Offshore Wind Zone

Amended and agreed

30/8/2023

Inquiry into Loneliness

Agreed

19/6/2024

Non-Recognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

Agreed

Feb 2024

National Recognition of Regional Heritage Sites

Agreed – Motion advocating for increased federal funding and legislative protection for South Australia’s historic regional hubs.

Parliamentary Committee Leadership & Membership

Across her time in the South Australian Legislative Council, Connie Bonaros served on a broad range of parliamentary committees, contributing to detailed scrutiny across health, governance, law reform, infrastructure, and social policy.

Committee Leadership

Nov 2018 – Nov 2025

Health Services in South Australia

Chair

Nov 2019 – Aug 2021

Effectiveness of the Current System of Parliamentary Committees

Chair

Key Committee Memberships

2018 – 2025

Legislative Review Committee

2022 – 2024

Return to Work SA Scheme

Feb 2024 – Nov 2024

Water Supply Needs of Eyre Peninsula

2024 – 2025

Children and Young People (Safety and Support) Bill

Jul 2023 – Nov 2023

Establishment of Adelaide University

Oct 2022 – Mar 2024

Prohibition of Neo-Nazi Symbols

Apr 2020 – Feb 2022

COVID-19 Response Committee

Mar 2021 – Oct 2021

Joint Committee on Equal Opportunity – Harassment in the Parliamentary Workplace

Additional Committee Work

2018 – 2021

Wage Theft in South Australia

2018 – 2021

Social Development Committee

2018 – 2021

Matters Relating to SA Pathology and SA Medical Imaging

2018 – 2020

Social Workers Registration Bill 2018

Jul 2019 – Oct 2019

Coorong Environmental Trust Bill 2019

Mar 2019 – Feb 2022

Murray-Darling Basin Royal Commission Findings

Jun 2018 – Feb 2022

Joint Committee on the 125th Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage
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