NORTHERN CONNECTIONS

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (14:49): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for State/Local Government Relations in her own right and representing the Minister for the Northern Suburbs a question about the Northern Connections Office.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS: Members may recall the convening last August of a northern suburbs summit by the University of South Australia. This followed a feature article in the Sunday Mail highlighting the concerns of well-known singer and former Elizabeth resident Jimmy Barnes about a lack of government commitment to the area. Just prior to the summit, the Premier appointed the member for Wright in another place as the first Minister for the Northern Suburbs. On 1 August, the day of the summit, the Premier announced the establishment of an office for the northern suburbs, to be known as Northern Connections and based in Elizabeth. It is worth noting that the office, which comes under the realm of the Department of Planning and Local Government, was opened only on 17 April this year, 8½ months after it was announced.

Very soon after her appointment, the minister announced that the area the office would work in and on behalf of would include the cities of Salisbury, Playford and Tea Tree Gully, as well as the Town of Gawler and Light Regional Council. There was no prior consultation on this composition, although I understand that the five mayors were invited to Parliament House by the minister after the announcement.

Subsequently, the five councils were advised in February that a forum involving local government and other major stakeholders would be held in March to determine the role and directions of the Northern Connections office. Four months have passed since that advice; however, the forum has never eventuated. When will local government and other key stakeholders be consulted about the role the Northern Connections office will play in advancing this important sector of the metropolitan and periurban communities?

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) (14:51): I thank the honourable member for his important question. I am absolutely confident that the Minister for the Northern Suburbs, the Hon. Jennifer Rankine, will indeed consult in a most thorough way with not only local government but also all relevant stakeholders in relation to any developments and plans in relation to the office for the north.