Answers to Questions

Aboriginal Health

In reply to the Hon. S.G. WADE (28 October 2015).

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): The Minister for Health has provided the following advice:

The Umoona Tjutagku Health Service Aboriginal Corporation (the Corporation) is incorporated under the Federal Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006.The South Australian government does not have regulatory authority over the Corporation.

The findings of the investigation by the Office of the Registrar of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations (the Registrar) into the affairs of the Corporation cover a range of operational governance issues.

A notice issued on 5 November 2015, on behalf of the Registrar, requires the Corporation to take action to comply with the Federal Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 and the Corporation's constitution, and to rectify any other irregularities as mentioned in the notice, including financial matters.

The Australian government's Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Commonwealth Department of Health are both working with the Corporation in relation to the findings.

I am advised SA Health provides funding to the Corporation, under a service agreement for outpatient counselling to address substance misuse.

Under the service agreement, SA Health receives quarterly service monitoring and financial reports, annual audited financial statements, and has quarterly contact meetings with the Corporation. I am further advised there have been no irregularities in these reports to suggest the outpatient counselling service is not being properly delivered.

I am advised that SA Health made inquiries and sought assurances that the funding was and is used exclusively for the provision of the contracted outpatient counselling appointments and that those assurances have been provided.