APY LANDS, VOLUNTARY INCOME MANAGEMENT

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (15:00): Mr President, thank you for the call, and hopefully it is not for the last time. I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, representing the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, questions about the voluntary income management scheme being introduced in the APY lands.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS: On 7 September, it was announced that the commonwealth will introduce a voluntary income management scheme on the APY lands. The model used will quarantine 50 per cent of a person's income for use on food, rent, clothing and essentials only via a BasicsCard. As honourable members know, I have asked questions on this subject before and it is no secret that many Aboriginal groups have been calling for this kind of scheme for a long time.

The NPY Women's Council and the chairman of the APY council have been some of the more vocal proponents. It is interesting to note that, when approached about the subject by the APY Council, the government dismissed it and, when asked by me in March, the minister did not give me an answer and still has not. My questions are:

1. Why did the government not act on this earlier when people on the lands have been crying out for something to be done?

2. Will this government support the commonwealth scheme?

3. Why has the minister not answered my question of six months ago?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (15:01): I thank the honourable member for his most important questions. I will take them to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation in another place and seek a response on his behalf.