PARKS COMMUNITY CENTRE

Mrs REDMOND (Heysen—Leader of the Opposition) (14:54): My question is again to the Premier. Why didn't the Premier and the government tell the people who use the Parks Community Centre before the 2010 election of their plans to close the centre?

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Families and Communities, Minister for Housing, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability) (14:54): We were faced with the task of making sure we get best value for money for the South Australian taxpayers. Is it best use of taxpayers' money to spend $16 million over the next 10 years maintaining what are currently barely adequate facilities for people of the western suburbs? This is an opportunity for us to provide improved services—

Mr Williams interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I warn the deputy leader.

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: —and facilities for the people of the western suburbs. We have already seen a $600 million commitment to that area, lifting the lives of those people—

Mrs REDMOND: Point of order, Madam Speaker: you just read out the relevant standing order about the need to answer the substance of the question. The question was about why the government did not tell the people who used the Parks Community Centre, before the election, that it intended to close it. That is the substance of the question.

The SPEAKER: No, I still think the minister is getting to the answer; I will give her the benefit of the doubt at this stage.

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: Let me also make the point that when the Parks was established in the 1970s the western suburbs were very different to what they are now. We had something like an 80 per cent Housing Trust concentration in some of those suburbs; it is now below 25 per cent.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: The decision in relation to the Parks was a proposal that was put to government by the Sustainable Budget Commission after the election.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: I have a point of order. The sticklers for the standing orders on the other side are shrieking interjections at a quietly-spoken, courteous woman. It is out of order.