Question Time

National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:17): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Human Services about housing.

Leave granted.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: I have asked the minister many times in this chamber recently about the National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing: before the 30 June expiry of that program, after the 30 June expiry of that program, and in the lead-up to this year's state budget. I have spoken to leaders in Aboriginal communities from the Far North, in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara lands, in the Flinders Rangers, the Far West Coast and to the south of the state.

I have had correspondence with leaders in other remote communities as well. There is huge concern about this issue in communities. Despite this, a recently released freedom of information application shows that the Ngapartji agreement was not on the agenda once for any ministerial meeting with the Minister for Human Services and the chief executive at any time at all from March through to June—not once on an agenda with the chief executive. My questions to the minister are:

1. Where in this year's state budget is there any provision—even $1—for remote Aboriginal housing at all? Where can I point to say to Aboriginal people, 'See, here's some money for your housing'?

2. Why hasn't the minister spoken to a chief executive once at a regular chief executive meeting about the Ngapartji agreement?

3. Can the minister now advise the chamber exactly how much state funding is available in the 2018-19 year, and how much federal funding is available in the 2018-19 year for remote Aboriginal housing?

4. Is the minister seeking to secure a 10-year agreement, as per the last Ngapartji agreement, or would she contemplate accepting a mere one-year deal if it was offered?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:19): I thank the honourable member for his question. Clearly, with the activities that have been taking place in Canberra recently, that has caused some difficulty in terms of closing an agreement with the commonwealth government.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: It's a fact. I think it's well known. In terms of the documents to which the honourable member refers, he may have obtained certain copies of agendas. I can assure the honourable member that I have had discussions on multiple occasions with my departmental staff about this at the most senior level. He may be aware that the functions for housing have now shifted to the newly created Housing Authority. Prior to that, I had several discussions in relation to this matter with both the CE and the relevant director responsible.