APY LANDS, EXPENDITURE

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (14:59): I seek leave to make a explanation before asking the Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion questions on the subject of departmental staff on APY lands.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: Almost three months ago, at the Budget and Finance Committee I directed a series of questions to departmental staff raising concerns about wastage of public moneys by departmental staff on the APY lands, especially at the end of the last two financial years. I note that, whilst the minister says that the government is still getting on with the business of governing, it has not got on with the business of actually providing answers to questions asked three months ago at a parliamentary committee inquiry.

Six weeks ago, approximately, I put a question to the minister in relation to whether there had been any allegations of abuse of locality and other allowances by departmental staff on the APY lands, and, if so, what disciplinary action had been taken against departmental staff. I do note that, whilst the minister says that he and the government are getting on with governing, six weeks later we still have not received a response to that particular question as well.

One of the allegations being made by whistleblowers within the minister's department is in relation to significant wastage of public moneys on the APY lands in that a significant number of motorcycles—up to 30 motorcycles—purchased by the department were being stored, unused in a shed at Marla. A series of questions was directed to the minister's officers in relation to the expenditure of moneys, the approvals, whether they were being sold and what authorities, etc., as I said, almost three months ago. My questions are:

1. Has the minister been briefed by his department on issues of unused motorcycles being stored in a shed at Marla on the APY lands; and, if so, can he outline what information he has been provided with and what action, if any, he has taken in relation to this particular issue?

2. Have draft answers to the questions asked of departmental staff of the Budget and Finance Committee three months ago been provided to the minister or the minister's officers in his ministerial office; and, if so, did he or his ministerial staff suggest any changes to the proposed answers from departmental staff?

3. When will the minister, given that he is getting on with the business of governing, so he claims, ensure that answers are provided to the Budget and Finance Committee to questions that were asked three months ago and the question he was asked in this chamber on a very important issue approximately six weeks 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) (15:02): I thank the honourable member for his most important questions. Let me say at the outset that, of course, as a government, we treat parliamentary questions as a very important part of the parliamentary process and direct significant resources towards answering those questions in a timely manner.

Of course, they are not the only aspects of governing. There are many other aspects of governing that we are getting on with whilst members opposite spend all their time squabbling amongst themselves, playing pass the parcel with the Liberal Party leadership, dropping the parcel when the music stops and watching the honourable member for Norwood drop in and pick up the parcel that no-one else wanted.

We get on with the business of governing. We put very good resources into answering the questions; and, as honourable members would note, over recent months the number of questions that are coming back to this place are coming back in a very timely fashion.