Countering Violent Extremism Program

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:57): Apart from meetings between the commissioner and the Islamic Society, why has there been no program pursuing this project in South Australia, unlike every other state in Australia?

The SPEAKER: The deputy leader has asked her question; the minister.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON (Ramsay—Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (14:58): I thank the deputy leader for her question. The commonwealth government has recently partnered with the state government and we are providing—

Ms Chapman: It was 2014. That is not recent. That is why I am asking why it hasn't been done.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: Recent funding has been provided by the commonwealth government and the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion will have a responsible person in regard to our campaign in engaging against encountering violent extremism. This is not the first time, obviously, we have engaged with the federal government, and I can tell you that the Minister for Multicultural Affairs has been here, I think, at least twice to engage in conversations through the South Australian Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission with our Muslim community to talk about the concerns and to talk about how we can work together. One of the key things that we will be doing is pulling in different agencies as to how we can identify and prevent extremist issues here in South Australia.