Answers to Questions

PY KU CENTRES

189 The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (9 February 2011) (First Session).

1. What State Government services could be accessed at each of the six PY Ku Centres located on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands as of 1 February 2011?

2. What additional State Government services will people be able to access from the PY Ku Centres by the end of June 2011?

3. Will these additional services be available at all six centres and, if not, at which specific centres will they be available?

4. How much funding has the Department of the Premier and Cabinet's APY Lands Taskforce provided Service SA to ensure State Government services can be accessed from the PY Ku Centres during the 2010-11 financial year?

5. On what specific projects and activities will this funding be spent?

6. What steps has Service SA taken to improve access to State Government information and services in Pukatja and other APY communities that do not have a PY Ku centre?

7. How much funding did Service SA expend on the establishment and running of a freecall number in the Amata family centre during the 2009-10 financial year?

8. How many calls did Service SA receive from this freecall direct dial phone?

9. Is this freecall direct dial phone still in operation and, if not, when did it cease operating?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation): The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation has been advised:

1. The Centres provide Centrelink and Australia Post services. Since November 2010, Service SA has been providing additional services from the Mimili and Amata Centres. These include facilities to pay for: driver's licences; vehicle registrations; court fines; and firearm licences. In addition, certificates for births, deaths and marriages can be obtained.

Five of the six centres are operational; the Watarru centre is closed and discussions are underway regarding its future.

2. In 2012, Service SA is providing EzyReg—an online system for vehicle registration—in Amata, Mimili and Fregon.

3. There are no plans to introduce EzyReg in other communities at this time.

4. In 2010-11, Service SA received funding of $403,000 from the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to deliver services from PY Ku Centres.

5. The 2010-11 budget was spent on delivering State Government services through the PY Ku Centres at Amata and Mimili. The funding also covered the cost of a pilot program to run a Virtual Call Centre (VCC) operator in the APY Lands, as well as the continuation of the free-call number.

6. Service SA has established a freecall number (1800 656 279) across the APY Lands so that people can gain access to State Government information and services.

7. In 2009-10 Service SA expended $28,370 on the establishment and running of the freecall number in the Amata family centre.

8. In 2009-10 Service SA received 469 calls.

9. The freecall number is still in operation.