Municipal and Essential Services Program

In reply to the Hon. T.A. FRANKS (7 December 2016).

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety): The Minister for Transport and Infrastructure has been advised that:

1. In April 2015, the South Australian government accepted responsibility for municipal services (MUNS) to Aboriginal communities outside of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands from the commonwealth government, and secured $15 million to support the MUNS program.

The Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI), which has been tasked to administer the funding, then took immediate steps to put in place agreements with all communities receiving funding, ensuring that no communities experienced a loss in funding or services due to this transfer of responsibility.

Over 2015-16, a total of $2.7 million of funding was therefore provided to deliver municipal services, across 17 grant agreements with nine Aboriginal communities, three local councils, the Outback Communities Authority, two Aboriginal homeland organisations and two private contractors. Services supported through the MUNS program include waste management, dog control, environmental health, road maintenance and water provision.

Grant agreements for the 2016-17 year have been finalised, which continue these arrangements. However, for the 2016-17 year and beyond, the state government has also committed to increasing the MUNS grants at a level commensurate with the consumer price index (CPI). This is the first time the CPI increase has been included in the MUNS grants for some years, and should provide communities with greater capacity to meet their ongoing needs.

2. While around half (nine) of the communities receiving MUNS funding are located on Aboriginal Lands Trust (ALT) land, the administration of the funds is undertaken by the local community council or organisation contracted to provide the services. DPTI’s municipal services team is in regular contact with every funded community, and liaises with the ALT directly when required. The ALT is able to contact the municipal funding team regarding the administration of specific MUNS contracts.

The smooth transition of the MUNS program, and this government’s commitment to the CPI increase, demonstrates our awareness of the importance of this program; funding services that are essential to the health and sustainability of Aboriginal communities. DPTI will continue to work directly with all communities and service providers to gain detailed information on the operation of the services funded through the MUNS program.