Quentin Kenihan Playground

The Hon. J.S. LEE (14:46): My question is to the Minister for Human Services about an important initiative happening within the Adelaide CBD. Can the minister please provide an update to the council—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.S. LEE: Just listen, opposition, because this is very important.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Ms Lee, I am the President.

The Hon. J.S. LEE: Can the minister please provide an update to the council—

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Ms Lee, please start that question again. I didn't hear any of it. Start again.

The Hon. J.S. LEE: Thank you, Mr President. My question is to the Minister for Human Services. Can the minister please provide an update to the council about the progress of an inclusive play space which will commemorate disability advocate, actor and filmmaker, Quentin Kenihan?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:47): I thank the honourable member for her question. A week ago today, the Premier and I had the great pleasure of jointly announcing, in conjunction with the Adelaide city council, the establishment and the location for the Quentin Kenihan playground, which the Premier committed to after the sad loss to our community of Mr Quentin Kenihan. We were pleased to be there with the Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Ms Sandy Verschoor, and Deputy Lord Mayor, Houssam Abiad, who was a good friend of Quentin, as well as members of the self-proclaimed group Team Q, including Quentin's mother Kerry Kenihan, Mr Filip Odzak, Polly Metzer and Ian Kissock, who was Quentin's carer.

The Marshall Liberal government is providing $1 million for the City of Adelaide to build an inclusive play space to commemorate Quentin. The regional play space will be integrated into the Rymill Park space, replacing the existing play space in the park. It is being managed by the Adelaide city council, Quentin's family and the construction is expected to start in 2020 following consultation.

The play space will include sensory elements, water play and features that encourage shared play and will be suitable for children and parents with wheelchairs. As Premier Marshall said on the day:

l am proud to announce the Liberal Government and City of Adelaide will see Quentin's vision become a reality and ensure his memory lives on, as well as provide a safe and fun play space for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy.

Quentin was a great South Australian. He captured the hearts of the nation and overcame significant challenges to live an amazing life.

This is in addition to the work that is being undertaken by my department in terms of inclusion. We have started the first state disability inclusion plan, which is currently being consulted on. We have an inclusive play working group, which is going to assist local councils to develop and ensure that their playgrounds, going into the future, are also inclusive. It forms part of a range of other activities, including employment for people with disabilities within the public sector.

We have also consulted, through DPC, on ensuring that South Australian government websites are inclusive as well, and threading through this element of a range of these things is the concept of universal design, which ensures that places, services, etc., are not just inclusive of people with disabilities but incorporate a range of people who may be frail, aged, mothers with prams, a whole range of people who may otherwise find it difficult to negotiate our community life.