APY Lands

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (15:11): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation on the topic of streetlighting in the APY lands communities.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: I note that I gave the minister some prior advance notice of this question earlier today and that he and other members would be well aware that, as of 13 April 2015, approximately 30 per cent of the APY lands community streetlights were not operational. This clearly has significant implications for the safety and wellbeing of those communities, not only for service providers but particularly, of course, for children.

In the Budget and Finance Committee meeting of April 2015, I highlighted this issue and asked questions of the executive director of the department. I am advised now by the Paper Tracker that, a full year later, despite assurances that there would be improvements in the provision of streetlighting across APY communities and an address of this 30 per cent figure of non-operational lights, there has been no action to this point. My questions are:

1. Can the minister update this council on the status of the streetlights on APY communities?

2. Are 30 per cent of lights (or more) inoperative?

3. What measures have been taken to address this?

4. Where have the lights been sourced from?

5. Is there any further information the minister can provide on this issue?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (15:12): I thank the honourable member for her question and for giving me an outline so that I can provide a useful response, as far as I can, in relation to the APY streetlights. I understand that in 2015 an audit identified that 67 streetlights on the APY lands were not working. I was aware of the audit being carried out. Late last year I saw part of this audit being carried out; in fact, in Pipalyatjara, I took part in the marking of the poles on which the streetlights were not working.

Given the implications for public safety, as the honourable member has outlined, I am pleased that the state government has negotiated with APY and the commonwealth government to enter into a joint funding agreement to replace the broken globes with LED light fittings. I am informed that these LED lights have an estimated lifespan five times longer than ordinary globes, are energy efficient and are designed to provide a higher level of protection against damage and dust contamination than the existing standard street lamp.

I am advised that the service agreement has been signed by both parties and that SA Power Networks has confirmed that it is now in receipt of the lights specifically ordered for the APY lands. I am further advised that installation of streetlights is due to commence tomorrow on 14 April this year in Pipalyatjara. SA Power Networks will continue the rollout of the replacement of lights in each community for seven days and then recommence on 27 April 2016 until the non-working lights have been replaced, up to a maximum of 75. As I said, I understand the audit identified 67 that were not working.

APY, as the landowners, will continue to be responsible for the ongoing maintenance and repair of streetlights. I am advised that, as part of the contract, the Regional Anangu Services Aboriginal Corporation (RASAC) has been engaged to provide local on-the-ground support during the installation process in each community. My information is that the state government has funded $120,000 of the estimated $160,000 required for this task, with the commonwealth government contributing $40,000.

The information that has been provided to me is that SA Power Networks purchased the lights from Gerard Lighting Group, which is based in Adelaide, and I am further advised that the lights are Australian-made lights, although it is possible that some of the component parts were sourced from overseas. I am happy to continue to provide the honourable member with updates as they roll out, and I am sure on her next visit with the Aboriginal Lands Parliamentary Standing Committee she will pay very close attention to how many lights in particular communities are working or not.