National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:18): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Human Services a question.

Leave granted.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: I will help the new minister out a bit. The NPARIH agreement is the National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing. According to the budget papers handed down last night, it will cease on 30 June 2018 and over the last 10 years has provided $287.3 million of commonwealth government funds for South Australia to address critical housing needs for Aboriginal families living in remote communities.

Now that the minister is clear about what is being asked, will she advise who is the responsible federal government minister for administering NPARIH and what communications has she had with that minister about the NPARIH agreement?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:19): I thank the member for clarifying that question. I thought he was actually referring to a name rather than using an acronym, which I certainly haven't heard before. Perhaps he was being a little bit cute to try to make himself look smart. In relation to the—

The PRESIDENT: Minister, please don't debate the question.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: I apologise, Mr President. In relation to the agreement, I was aware that there were funding issues that arose before the election. I actually made contact with the relevant federal minister, the Hon. Nigel Scullion, prior to the election to raise this issue. Since the election, I have been advised that negotiations with the commonwealth are ongoing. Those have been taking place at a Treasurer to Treasurer level. They are ongoing and I am hopeful that there will be resolution of that forthwith.