National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:20): A further question: given, as I outlined in the previous question, last night's budget locked in almost one-third of a billion dollars' worth of cuts, if you base it on the last 10 years, can the minister guarantee that no remote Aboriginal community or homeland will be forced to close as a result of these cuts?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:20): I thank the honourable member for that question. I think that's potentially rather a long bow, but as I stated in my response to the previous question, I am hopeful that there are going to be fruitful discussions with the commonwealth and we will await the outcome of those prior to any of those issues.