APY LANDS, ELECTRICITY INFRASTRUCTURE

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (15:13): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation questions about electricity on Aboriginal homelands.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS: After a recent trip to the APY lands, a number of residents raised the issue of the maintenance of the electricity infrastructure on the lands, particularly their homelands. I have had correspondence raising concerns to this effect and have asked the minister about this issue on a number of occasions. Unfortunately, he has handballed this issue to the Minister for Energy in another place. My questions are:

1. Has the minister received a response from the Minister for Energy?

2. Does the minister think it appropriate that nothing has been done in the 12 months since I last raised the issue?

The PRESIDENT: Minister, you will ignore the usual bits.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:14): The usual bits.

The PRESIDENT: The opinion and debate, for you, the Hon. Mr Stephens.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: Thank you, sir, for that guidance. I thank the honourable member for his most important question. To my knowledge, I have not seen a response to the honourable member's question, but I am sure the Minister for Energy in another place is working assiduously on getting a response for him. I am not sure that I accept the premise of his second question.