STATE/LOCAL GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

The Hon. S.G. WADE (14:46): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for State/Local Government Relations a question about state/local government relations.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Problems in state/local government relations have been highlighted recently by the government's attacking councils for implementing a state government fortnightly waste collection trial and by legal action taken by Unley council against the state government in relation to a major declaration, citing lack of consultation. Other examples of poor relationship management are the government's mismanagement of its proposal for a new prison at Murray Bridge and its relationship with the local council, the Rural City of Murray Bridge.

On 21 September 2006, the government announced that a new prison will be built at Murray Bridge. The news came as a surprise to the local council, as it had been promised by the government that it would be informed before any announcement was made. No such advice was given. I am advised that, in the early stages of the project, the council received commitments from the government to fund the upgrade of Bremer Road and to provide public transport between Murray Bridge and Adelaide. The state government has now also backed away from these commitments.

The council has raised a number of other issues, including rateability, stormwater systems, internal development of the site and adequacy of local hospitals and schools. I understand that 500 school places will be needed and that there is no such capacity in Murray Bridge schools. Without local services, such as schools and hospitals, it will be impossible to recruit and retain prison officers at Murray Bridge.

The council is experiencing continuing frustrations and is being shunted from minister to minister in relation to different aspects of the development; the Treasurer and the ministers for Correctional Services, Transport, Health and Education are all involved. It is a state government project, but the council is expected to manage multiple relationships. The state government is not providing a single point of contact; in fact, it refused the council's request for observer status at a state government cross-agency project steering committee. My questions are

1. As the Minister for State/Local Government Relations, will she ensure that the concerns of the Rural City of Murray Bridge are taken seriously and addressed by her government?

2. What action is she taking to ensure that, across government, local government is effectively and efficiently engaged in relation to the implementation of major state government projects, such as the new prison at Murray Bridge?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy) (14:48): The honourable member refers to a range of different projects and initiatives in terms of various developments and contract arrangements. The local council is involved in a wide number of different initiatives, and the minister responsible for that project is the lead minister and takes responsibility for coordinating information.

In respect of the prison, I am happy to refer the comments to the appropriate ministers in another place so that they are aware of them. Obviously, as Minister for State/Local Government Relations, wherever possible I encourage a whole of government approach to these sorts of projects. They are often quite complex and span a wide number of portfolio areas. It is important that government does consult; it is committed to consulting. Consultation is an issue that is addressed in our MOU with the LGA, so we are committed to engaging with local government, and I believe we do that.