Parliamentary Committees

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE: CEDUNA ABORIGINAL CHILDREN AND FAMILY CENTRE

The Hon. M.J. WRIGHT (Lee) (11:53): I move:

That the 430^th report of the committee, on the Ceduna Aboriginal Children and Family Centre, be noted.

It is proposed that the Public Works Committee report on the proposal to construct the Ceduna Aboriginal Children and Family Centre. The project proposed by the Department for Education and Child Development consists of the construction of a new Aboriginal children and family centre in Ceduna at an estimated project cost of $5.95 million, excluding GST. Given this, and pursuant to section 12C of the Parliamentary Committees Act 1991, the Public Works Committee reports to parliament that it recommends the proposed public works.

Mr TRELOAR (Flinders) (11:54): I rise to make a few comments on this report. I appreciate the committee's good work. The reason I rise is, of course, that Ceduna is in the Flinders electorate and is, indeed, the second largest town in my electorate. Interestingly, 25 per cent of the population of Ceduna is in fact Aboriginal, and I would suggest that that is probably the highest level of any town anywhere in South Australia, in the settled areas at least.

I congratulate the committee on their work and would like to make a few comments about this particular centre. The intention of this new centre is to provide quality early childhood care and learning programs. It is particularly important, I believe, because the key to any child's success is a well-delivered basic education. The opportunities that anybody in the Australian community finds in life arise directly as a result of our education.

The challenge for our community, particularly in those areas that have large Aboriginal populations, is in the first instance to get the Aboriginal children to school, then the further challenge is to keep them there. I know it is with great difficulty that the education department is attempting to address this issue. This centre is going to be delivering quality early childhood education, laying the foundation for a lifetime of learning. The support that it will provide to the Aboriginal families in Ceduna to assist in that education is also critical, because the support of the family is critical to the child's success as well.

It is with great pleasure that I note this report. I look forward to watching the new building development take place in Ceduna. In fact, Ceduna has been quite fortunate in recent times. It has had quite a host of building activity, some government spend and also some spending from the mining industry. This will further add to the community and the opportunities for the Aboriginal children.

Mr PENGILLY (Finniss) (11:57): The opposition members supported the project in committee and support it today.

Motion carried.