APY LANDS, ELECTRICITY INFRASTRUCTURE

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (14:46): 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 poor upkeep of electricity infrastructure on the APY lands.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS: Recently, my office was contacted by a concerned resident on the APY lands who was concerned about her brother, a community constable living on the Centre Bore homeland. In June 2012, the constable informed the Regional Anangu Services Aboriginal Corporation, which is in charge of the upkeep of public housing, that the bore and tank water, solar panels and batteries all required urgent maintenance, particularly as the panels were the sole energy source for hot water, air conditioning and lights. The tank needed replacing and, as of 19 October, the new tank is sitting there waiting to be put into the ground.

He contacted RASAC about the hot water and was told that it was a Housing SA issue. He was then referred back to RASAC when it became known that it was solar powered. RASAC then informed the gentleman that he would have to wait for an electrician to come out to the homeland. A generator was put in as a stopgap but it is not big enough to power everything and another battery must now be put in. The electrician cannot make it back until at least after Christmas.

The community constable was without hot water and heating in winter and it now appears that he will be without air conditioning for a large part of summer, all the while trying to do a job on behalf of the South Australia Police for the betterment of Aboriginal communities. In the meantime, gas stoves have been looked at as an alternative; however, gas bottles can cost up to $300 on the lands. I have been informed that access to services was reduced significantly after FAHCSIA pulled their funding from RASAC. I do not think this is a coincidence. My questions are:

1. How is this community constable expected to do his job effectively under these conditions—and perhaps the Minister for Police can take an interest in this question?

2. Why has the government failed to correct this problem after numerous opportunities to do so?

3. Will the government pick up the slack left after the commonwealth funding was pulled or can the people living on the APY lands expect this sort of shoddy treatment in the long term?

4. Will the minister correct this problem as soon as possible?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (14:48): I thank the honourable member for his most important questions and his ongoing interest in these very important matters. I will take his questions on electricity infrastructure on the APY lands to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation in the other place and seek a response on his behalf.