APY LANDS, DISPUTE RESOLUTION

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (14:27): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation a question about dispute resolution on the APY lands.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS: In answer to a question asked yesterday by the Hon. Tammy Franks, the minister detailed the decision to appoint a conciliation panel for resolution of current disputes on the APY lands. My question to the minister is: what are the operational details of the panel, including which parties the panel will meet with, and when?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (14:28): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. My understanding is that the appointment of any conciliator needs to be approved by the executive body that it relates to—in this case, APY. They did that, I think I advised the chamber, on 9 October, from memory. They then constitute a panel because I have appointed five of them, as I have previously advised the house.

As I understand it—and I need to seek further advice in case this is not correct—a person with a grievance would apply to me as minister to have that grievance heard by a conciliator. I would appoint one of the panel to hear that grievance or sit down and act as conciliator or mediator on this particular issue, whatever it might be, and that is how the procedure would be advanced. Of course, that would probably be advanced in the area where the issue arises, be it the APY, but it could also be, if it suits all parties, somewhere else in the state, such as Adelaide.

The PRESIDENT: Supplementary, the Hon. Mr Stephens.