APY Lands, Regional Partnership Agreement

In reply to the Hon. S.G. WADE (20 September 2016).

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): I am advised:

Three priority areas were identified for schedules in late 2013 and early 2014: schooling, roads, and governance and leadership. Schedules were not formally signed, primarily due to the instability and disruption of the APY Executive Board during this period.

There has however been significant progress in these areas using the principles of the Regional Partnership Authority to ensure the engagement and inclusion of Anangu:

Schooling – The Commonwealth Government's Remote School Attendance Strategy aims to increase rates of school attendance in APY schools and advice indicates that this has improved.

Roads – Both state and commonwealth governments are investing a total of $106.25 million to upgrade 210 kilometres of the main access road between the Stuart Highway and Pukatja. At least 30 per cent of the total on-site labour hours are being undertaken by local Anangu for these works.

Governance and Leadership – the APY Land Rights (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill 2016 recently passed by the parliament will bring greater diversity, credibility and representation to the APY Executive Board, as well as improving APY administration and electoral processes.

The seven principles of the Regional Partnership Authority: shared vision and outcomes, mutual respect, shared responsibility, improved coordination, inclusiveness, accountability and increasing economic participation continue to be applied in the South Australian government's work with Anangu.