APY LANDS, FOOD SECURITY

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (14:59): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation on the subject of correspondence between his department and the APY executive on the subject of market gardens.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: I do not need to draw the minister's attention to the subject of market gardens, but I do specifically draw his attention to the minutes of 1 November 2010 of the APY executive. In that, item 10 notes:

DENR Market Gardens: The Executive discussed the DENR proposal for establishing market gardens on the lands, and agreed to proceed in conjunction with DENR, but made this agreement conditional on the basis that this activity be confined to Homelands properties only. This condition is to ensure that interest and enterprise are provided within the Homelands environment.

Given that the minister insists that Anangu people and indeed the APY executive were calling out for these market gardens, will the minister now release a copy of the department's correspondence to the APY executive—specifically from November 2010 but also any other correspondence—proposing to establish these market gardens?

Does he stand by his previous assertions that it was Anangu and the APY executive who called for these gardens? Does he also have any awareness of discussions between the APY executive prior to this correspondence where the APY executive requested assistance with freight and transport?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:01): As I have said in this place in the last two days, we have had requests from communities to establish gardens for growing fruit and vegetables. I understand the honourable member has a very keen interest in finding out where those requests came from. I do not propose to—

The Hon. T.J. Stephens interjecting:

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: The Hon. Mr Stephens is casting some aspersions, if you like, but he is actually questioning my character, and I think that is verging on unparliamentary. Let me just wipe the smile off his face. I do not propose to use the names of the individuals who have approached us with these requests, but I will summarise them for you. Homelands: nine requests, including:

Railway Bore, through community members, including the chairperson of the APY, Mr Bernard Singer, during an Indulkana community council meeting.

Blue Hills, near Mimili, requested by a member of the community and family.

Happy Valley, near Amata, a request from four community members.

Sandy Bore, near Mimili, a request from three community members.

Shannon's Bore, a request from a community member and his family.

Amaralytja, near Amata, a request from three community members.

Nyapari (where the orchard was reinvigorated, the honourable member recalls), a request by community members during a community consultation.

Aroomona, between Indulkana and Mimili, requested at the Indulkana community council meeting from an individual and a family.

Aeroplane Bore homestead, a request from the APY economic and enterprise development manager on behalf of individuals and a family.

From communities:

Mimili, 14 requests, I am told, from residents for individual gardens, and a number of other individuals who are listed on my briefing.

Watarru, a request for a collective by community, I am advised.

Pipalyatjara, a request from the community chairperson, and at the time that was not addressed because it was deemed to be unsuitable due to issues with workforce availability, soil and various other matters.

The Hon. Mr Stephens has now lost his smile, Mr President.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Ms Franks has a supplementary.