APY LANDS

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (14:58): My question is to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation. Does the minister have any concerns about the Abbott government's proposed budget cuts and their impact on APY lands communities?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (14:58): I thank the honourable member for his important question, his continued advocacy for the communities at APY lands and, as usual, he is right on the money. He has been paying attention to what has been happening in Canberra in relation to budget cuts announced by the Prime Minister-elect, Mr Abbott, only about 48 hours before polling day, I understand. As I have outlined this week, there are a number of issues the newly elected federal government has given cause for concern through its last-minute costings release. Is that not a shameful reflection on how transparent and open they said they wanted to be to the Australian electorate? They just could not help themselves.

One of particular concern to me in relation to the question the honourable member raises, and one that all members of this chamber should be concerned about I suggest, was the $2.485 billion cut to the Regional Infrastructure Fund. This fund of course is an important source of funding for regional communities right around the country. Communities have used it in the last few years to improve their infrastructure, but most importantly to promote economic development and productivity.

The Regional Infrastructure Fund was established by the former Labor government to invest the proceeds of the mining boom into the towns and regions of regional Australia, which of course aligns with the state government's commitment under the leadership of Premier Jay Weatherill to realise the benefits of the mining boom for all South Australians.

The Regional Infrastructure Fund is worth, I am told, $4 billion over 2010-11 to 2020-21, with $3.6 billion of the fund drawing on the proceeds of the mineral resource rent tax. However, outlined in Mr Abbott's and Mr Hockey's last-minute costings was a $2.485 billion cut, and I have very grave concerns about how this will affect our state—in particular, how it will affect the Aboriginal communities of the APY lands.

Members in this place would probably recall that I have previously advised the chamber that in recent federal and state budgets $85 million and $21 million were respectively committed to the upgrade of a 210-kilometre section of the main access road between the Stuart Highway and Pukatja and also to improve 21 kilometres of community roads. The community road upgrades included improvements on access roads to Pukatja, Umuwa, Fregon, Mimili and also to Umuwa power station.

The commonwealth component of the funding was identified in the forward estimates, through the Regional Infrastructure Fund. Understandably, the announcement to improve these roads was highly welcomed by the APY Executive, which was particularly attracted to the economic potential for the project to create jobs for Anangu. The state government and the APY communities are now waiting to see whether this important project will go ahead because of these announced cuts.

Those members who have visited the lands would appreciate that the current road from the Stuart Highway to Pukatja is predominantly unformed, unsheeted, corrugated and, in many places, well below the natural surface of the surrounding soil. This project was intended to allow for formation and sheeting, utilising pit raised granular pavement material.

On completion, the upgraded road would have provided improved and safer access for services, increased access to markets for exports (for example, arts and crafts); increased opportunities to establish new routes for tourist operators; improved emergency management through reduced response times; improved access to training and employment opportunities; improved living standards as a result of enhanced service access; additional community interaction and social exchange; and, of course, improved road safety. This, of course, is now all up in the air. I am sure that there are many other projects and many other communities like this right around the country funded through the Regional Infrastructure Fund now also living with this uncertainty.

I can put to this chamber that the Weatherill government will do everything in its power to ensure that the federal government does not renege on this important program, that it does not walk away from the Aboriginal communities in this state, but in doing so I ask honourable members in the chamber to do the same. As Premier Jay Weatherill pointed out earlier this month, we want people to be confident about government, confident that we are spending money appropriately and confident that we have their best interests at heart. As the Premier has pointed out, we cannot achieve what we want to do if people are cynical about the process of government. Aboriginal communities, particularly those of the APY lands, are no different.

I call upon the federal government to make clear its intentions and to commit to funding this important upgrade of the roads in the APY lands, and I also call upon members present, particularly those opposite, to do the same: put South Australia first, like we did altogether for the River Murray. Put South Australia first, not your political party.

The Hon. S.G. Wade interjecting:

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: Well, I'm giving you an opportunity, Mr Wade, to stand up for the people of South Australia. Put South Australia first, not your political party. Lobby with us the federal government to ensure that road funding for the APY lands will be continued.