Legislative Council: Tuesday, February 02, 2021

Contents

Remote Area Housing

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (16:16): My question is to the Minister for Human Services regarding remote housing. In view of the fact that it is now a year since your agency issued a tender to build 26 homes in the APY lands, and I understand the first six should have been built by 30 June last year, how many homes have been completed? Has there been a reduction in homes in the APY lands over the past 12 months?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (16:17): I thank the honourable member for her question and remind the house that we were the government that actually was prepared to match the funding arrangement offered by the commonwealth. The commonwealth previously had provided finance to the state government to do all the work—

The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: —and the South Australian government didn't—

The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister has the call.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: —make any commitment to reach into its own pocket at all.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Minister, please proceed.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: Thank you, Mr President. The Leader of the Opposition doth protest very much.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Leader of the Opposition is out of order! I call the minister, and she will be heard in silence.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: Mr President, I will take the question on notice in relation to the numbers that have been constructed. I understand that COVID, just like it has had an impact on most things, has had an impact on the works on the lands as well. We look forward to that work progressing, but I will take those details on notice and bring them back to the chamber.