YALATA POLICE STATION

The Hon. C.V. SCHAEFER (14:52): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the minister representing the acting premier a question about the Yalata Police Station.

Leave granted.

The Hon. C.V. SCHAEFER: On 3 June last year I asked the Hon. Paul Holloway, who was, at that time, minister for police, a question with regard to the construction of the Yalata Police Station. Budget money was committed in the year previous (that is, in 2007) for the reconstruction of that police station which had been burnt down. At the time I asked the minister when construction of that replacement station would commence and whether he could confirm or deny that the funds committed for the building of the station at Yalata had in fact been deployed to the APY lands.

At the time the minister replied that funding had been granted both by the previous commonwealth government and this commonwealth government and that there was the intention to upgrade those police facilities significantly. His reply continued:

Unfortunately, the Yalata Police Station was burnt down. I will see what progress has been made in relation to reconstruction of that particular facility. I am not exactly sure of the position relating to that particular facility, so I will take the question on notice and bring back a reply.

My constituent has since contacted me, and they have been told by SAPOL that there now is no money in the budget for construction of the Yalata Police Station. My questions are:

1. When will I receive a reply to the question I asked in June last year?

2. Why has money that was previously committed for the construction of a police station now disappeared?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (14:55): I will refer that question on to my colleague and bring back a reply. I am as interested as the honourable member in the future of that project, and I am aware that there have been expansions of other projects in the APY lands. I do not know whether the answer is related to that; however, I will refer it to my colleague and, given the time that has elapsed, seek to provide a response as quickly as possible.