Aboriginal Affairs

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (14:32): I seek leave to make a brief explanation prior to directing a question to the Minister for Manufacturing on the subject of Aboriginal affairs.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: In February 2014, the former minister and the Premier released the Labor Party's Aboriginal Affairs policy. The press release was headed, 'Partnerships to support Aboriginal economic prosperity.' In the accompanying documentation from the Labor Party's policy statement it said, in part, under the heading 'Labor will work with Aboriginal communities to:'

…Seek to partner with Jawun to build capacity and cultivate business in Aboriginal communities encouraging economic activity and creating jobs.

In the costing document, there is a reference to this particular policy initiative over the four years of forward estimates costed at just over $1 million. My question, given the current minister's longstanding involvement and interest in Aboriginal Affairs policy for the Labor Party is:

1. Was the current minister involved with the former minister, minister Hunter, and his ministerial staff in the process of developing this particular policy?

2. If so, what was the original intended purpose of the $1 million as outlined in the Labor Party's policy platform that it took to the election in February 2014?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (14:34): I thank the honourable member for his question, and it is quite a simple answer: no, I wasn't involved in the formulation of this particular policy.