Parliamentary Committees

Aboriginal Lands Parliamentary Standing Committee: Report 2013-14

Mr HUGHES (Giles) (11:03): I move:

That the annual report 2013-14 of the committee be noted.

This is the 10^th annual report of the Aboriginal Lands Parliamentary Standing Committee and my first as a member of the committee, having been appointed to the committee after the recent state election. During the year, there have been a lot of changes to the committee, and a significant change to the Aboriginal Lands Parliamentary Standing Committee Act, with the act being amended to remove the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation as the presiding member, as well as the appointment of new members to the committee after the March election.

In the midst of all these changes, the committee did still endeavour to meet with and discuss the issues of importance with Aboriginal people in their communities, visiting the APY lands during July last year and again in July this year. Having met with and spoken to a number of Aboriginal people during the committee’s recent visit to the APY communities of Pipalyatjara, Kalka, Nyapari, Murpatja, Kanypi, Umuwa and Amata, I am starting to get a better appreciation of the complex social, cultural and economic issues that the Aboriginal people face on a daily basis.

During the year, the committee also heard evidence from witnesses from a number of state agency and Aboriginal support organisations, and I thank the people and organisations who provided information to the committee. The committee also finalised its inquiry into the Stolen Generations Reparations Tribunal Bill 2010 and tabled its report in both houses of parliament in November.

I would like to thank all members of the committee for their dedication and hard work. I would also like to acknowledge the commitment and dedication of the previous committee members: the former presiding member and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation (the Hon. Ian Hunter MLC), the President of the Legislative Council (the Hon. Russell Wortley MLC), the Hon. Lyn Breuer and Ms Gay Thompson for their significant contribution to the committee and the inquiry during the last year.

As always, state and commonwealth agencies provide considerable information which greatly assists the committee with its work, and I thank those agencies for their support and for following up on matters that arise at meetings and at committee hearings.

Finally, I would like to thank all of the Aboriginal people the committee has met over the past year. I appreciate their willingness to discuss their issues and share their stories and knowledge with the committee.

Mr GARDNER (Morialta) (11:06): Can I just indicate that the member for Morphett is a member of the committee in question. He has a very sincere interest in the area, which I am sure all members would be aware of, and he looks forward to the opportunity to speak on it, with the government’s assistance.

Debate adjourned on motion of Mr Gardner.