National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:19): Supplementary arising from the answer: has the minister informed herself, via formal advice from her department, as to the status of these negotiations?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:19): I am fully aware of the status of these arrangements, but I will not be providing an ongoing commentary in the public domain when there are ongoing negotiations.

The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting:

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: No, I haven't finished. The Leader of the Opposition would be well aware, as would anybody who has ever been involved in any negotiations that are taking place at whatever level—whether it is officer to officer, minister to minister or any other level within government to government arrangements—that you do not provide an ongoing public commentary in the interests of your negotiating position. That would be a foolhardy approach and I don't have anything to add.