OUTBACK COMMUNITIES AUTHORITY

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (15:12): I seek leave to ask the Minister for Regional Development a question about outback communities.

Leave granted.

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS: Approximately 4,000 South Australians reside in numerous small communities, service locations, and pastoral and farming properties in outback South Australia, an area which encompasses roughly 65 per cent of our state. Can the minister advise us of her recent visit to communities in outback South Australia?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (15:12): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. I was pleased to be able recently to spend three days travelling through the outback areas, visiting communities and stations and meeting with residents of this area, which covers over half of our state but has less than 1 per cent of our population.

On Wednesday 10 July, I travelled to Andamooka, where I was pleased to meet with the recently appointed Outback Communities Authority Chair, Ms Cecilia Woolford, and Ms Deb Allen, Andamooka Community Administrator. I was given a tour of Andamooka township and the opportunity to view some of the wonderful new and planned infrastructure, including current construction of their community splash pad.

Meeting with the Andamooka Town Management Committee later that morning, I was pleased to formally hand over the Andamooka Structure Plan. The plan was developed by the state government with the former minister, the Hon. Russell Wortley, in collaboration with the former Andamooka town management committee, the Andamooka Progress and Opal Miners Association, and the Andamooka community generally. It is a visionary document that will guide the future design and planning of Andamooka over the next 10 to 20 years.

That afternoon, I travelled to Roxby for a short and informative meeting with the town's administrator, Bill Boehm, before flying to Marree, where I headed to the Marree Hotel and was pleased to meet with Marilyn and Phil Turner. Ms Turner has been the co-lessee of the Marree Hotel since 2011; she was formerly from Canberra. Ms Turner is an active supporter of community projects and events, such as the Marree Races and Camel Cup, and the Royal Flying Doctor Service. She is also one of the recent appointees to the Outback Communities Authority. Opportunities for local economic development were raised including tourism opportunities with the Marree Man, which I was able to fly over on my way to William Creek. To see what is left of that outline is quite spectacular.

My time in William Creek started in style with the community providing me a delightful William Creek taxi for my journey from the airstrip (100 metres or so) into town. It was handpainted white with a handpainted 'taxi' sign on it. It was decorated with Australian flags and had an esky bolted to the roof of the car as well. I felt very privileged. They had gone to extraordinary lengths and they all had their cameras ready as I got off the aircraft to see the expression on my face when I saw the taxi—a reminder of the good-natured humour of many of our outback areas.

From William Creek I travelled to Anna Creek Station. I was given a tour of the station by the station manager, Norm Sims. We also had a wonderful lunch that was provided by his partner, Steph Sims, before we went off for a tour around the station. It is a magnificent station. The country is awesome at that time; there is a fair bit of water around and the stock were looking pretty healthy and plump. As you know, Mr President, the Anna Creek Station is the world's largest cattle station, covering over 2.3 million hectares.

On Friday I journeyed to Oodnadatta, as honourable members would be aware (I have already spoken in this place about it), to do the naming of the airstrip. When I was in Oodnadatta, particularly with my background in nursing and health, I was pleased to be able to attend the clinic, also the school and the museum. They are very important services to that town and community. Oodnadatta is populated by approximately 275 people and that grew enormously with the naming ceremony in memory of Adam Plate. Hundreds of people came out.

The outback areas, while small in population, have a history and narrative that is comparable to its area—vast and interesting and very compelling. It is a significant part of South Australia's consciousness. The South Australian government, through the Outback Communities Authority, continues to support the maintenance and growth of these communities, and I was pleased to be able to have the opportunity to witness this firsthand.

The residents in these communities are what makes our outback areas tenacious and resilient. The rest of South Australia and our nation are regularly in wonder and admiration of this, and I look forward to future visits to this remarkable area and others in regional and rural South Australia.