SERVICE SA

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (14:56): I have a supplementary question. How many calls were made on the free call number as provided by PY Ku that were not appropriate government enterprises, given that the free call number was not originally set up properly and was unable to differentiate between personal and business calls? What amount of money does the government have to pay for those calls?

The PRESIDENT: You might know that off the top of your head, minister.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for Gambling) (14:56): No; I do not carry that detail around. I think this is just disgraceful, because it is so incredibly difficult setting up services in these communities, and an incredible amount of effort and trouble has gone into setting up these sorts of services. The challenges are enormous. I have to say that we have been working on some of these services for years, trying to form relationships and build confidence and for these local communities to come to an agreement about who does what and where.

It is incredibly difficult, Mr President. It is not simple. We might expect it to be very easy to introduce here in the city, sitting there as a city slicker; it would be really easy. Well, it is not easy in these communities. It is really, really difficult, and a number of people have done the most extraordinary amount of work and given the most extraordinary amount of personal commitment to try to roll out some semblance of a decent service to these communities.

And what do we get from the Greens? Nark, nark, nark and whinge, whinge, whinge about the possibility of someone—God forbid—making a personal phone call, instead of the Hon. Ms Franks getting up in this place and saying 'Good on you, government, for being able to achieve this.' I cannot believe it. It is no mean feat, as I said, Mr President; it is incredibly challenging. I want to congratulate Service SA, particularly those individuals involved in this project, for their unrelenting commitment and effort to roll out these services.