APY Lands

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE (15:47): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs a question about his work in the APY lands.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE: Today we have had a bill put before us by the government. For some reason or another that we will work through during the debate on the bill, it is an urgency bill, tabled today and expected to go through the house, regarding Draconian decisions potentially in the APY lands. My question therefore to the minister is: how many times has the minister visited the APY lands and when was the last time the minister visited the APY lands since he has been minister responsible for Aboriginal affairs?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:47): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. From recollection, I think I have been to the APY lands three or four times. I was due to go up in September but, for family reasons, I was not able to make it. I think my last visit was last year. The last time was September last year. Correction: I have been up three times.