National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:21): A supplementary question arising from the answer given: just to be clear, the minister won't guarantee that there will be forced closures of Aboriginal communities or remote homelands as a result of these cuts?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:21): I note that there has been a certain strategy in relation to questioning, asking ministers to rule things in or out.

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

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: I'm sorry; a new regime with a much higher standard than was enforced on the previous administration, which we welcome. I'm not going to play the game in this place of ruling anything in or out, because I know where that's going. So, you can keep asking me that, and I will give you the same response.