YUENDUMU FAMILIES

Mrs REDMOND (Heysen—Leader of the Opposition) (14:29): Thank you, Madam Speaker—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mrs REDMOND: In that case my question is to the Attorney-General. Did the minister say, as reported, that the Warlpiri Aboriginals camped in the Parklands should be taken to beaches at Ceduna and Streaky Bay?

The SPEAKER: The Attorney-General.

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Tourism, Minister for Food Marketing) (14:30): Thank you very much, Madam Speaker—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! You have asked the question; you will listen to his response in silence.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for her question. I am aware that the Adelaide City Council and a number of residents have concerns about the people who are currently illegally camping in the city Parklands. As Minister for the City of Adelaide, I share those concerns. In fact, I am concerned about anybody—anybody—illegally camping in the Parklands. I support—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.R. RAU: If you listen—I support moves by government agencies and the SA Police to actively encourage any people who are illegally camping in the Parklands to find suitable accommodation elsewhere. I actually believe that children may also be involved in the group in the park, and if this is true, it is a matter of serious concern. Camping out involves a risk to public safety, potentially for the campers, who may, as I have said, include children, and others. It also raises public health issues.

Mr PISONI: On a point of order: the member for Croydon has time and time again pulled up members of parliament for reading their responses to parliament, and I ask that you—

The SPEAKER: Order! Sit down. The minister is referring to some notes that he has. This is a very difficult subject and I am sure the Attorney-General wants us—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! You will listen to the minister in silence. He needs the opportunity to respond in any manner he chooses.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Thank you.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I do not know if those opposite managed to pick up on the ABC radio program on Monday, but my colleague the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs had a number of things to say on that program.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.R. RAU: If members opposite had listened to that program, they would not have had—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.R. RAU: —to ask a number of the questions they have asked of her today.

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Bragg, be quiet!

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Thank you. On 7 March, which was Monday—and this would have helped you with the questions you previously asked—the minister said:

The first thing I want to say is that camping in the Parklands is unacceptable behaviour by anyone—anyone. The Parklands are open spaces; they are not camping grounds. My latest advice and information is that people who are camping in the Parklands have advised my officers that they intend to return home, so we are working with them on making that happen. We need to find a solution here that is sustainable.

She went on to say—

Mrs REDMOND: On a point of order: it is a matter of relevance. The question was, did the minister say that the people in the Parklands should be moved to the beaches at Streaky Bay or Ceduna?

The SPEAKER: If we had yes or no answers in this place, question time would involve 50 or 60 questions. I think the minister can answer—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Minister, continue your answer. I consider what you are saying is relevant.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Thank you. It will be much quicker if I am not interrupted.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: If I can just get on with it, she also said:

We understand that they are here visiting family and friends, as they are perfectly entitled to do. They are not homeless; they have income and they have the capacity to get themselves home. Camping in the Parklands is not acceptable by anyone. They do not need to get themselves back home. It has been made very clear to them that camping in the Parklands is unacceptable. It is unacceptable.

Madam Speaker, I agree entirely, and I am not going to canvass unsourced scuttlebutt.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!