Treaty Negotiations

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (14:59): I can't hear myself over the Hon. Ms Gago interjecting, the previously extinguished minister for employment. I seek leave to make an explanation prior to directing a question to the Leader of the Government on the subject of Aboriginal treaties.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: In a momentous interview on the controversial topic of Aboriginal treaties, the Leader of the Government said on 14 December last year on ABC radio—let me quote his exact response so that he doesn't claim to have been quoted out of context. The question came:

The South Australian government says negotiations will be open ended but what form any treaty would take or whether compensation would be included isn't yet clear…Kyam Maher.

The Hon. Mr Maher replied:

We have an ambition to have whatever form it takes a treaty signed off by the end of next year—

which is, of course, the end of this year. My two questions to the Leader of the Government are as follows:

1. Given that we are almost at the end of this year, 2017, could the minister indicate whether he will have a treaty signed off, as he indicated 12 months ago, by the end of this year?

2. Can he now indicate whether or not there have been any discussions on behalf of Aboriginal Nations in relation to compensation? If there have been, what, if any, response has the government given?