Question Time

Autism

The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO (15:11): I seek leave to provide a brief explanation before asking a question of the parliamentary secretary regarding autism.

Leave granted.

The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO: Since being appointed as the Assistant Minister for Autism, the parliamentary secretary has refused to answer questions on six occasions, questions from the opposition in regard to autism, autism in schools and preschools and funding for the Autism Strategy, instead stating, 'I'm not the education minister', despite the questions clearly being within her portfolio responsibility area of autism and autism responsibility.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order, the Hon. Mr Hunter! Conclude.

The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO: My questions to the parliamentary secretary in her role as Assistant Minister for Autism are:

1. What is the parliamentary secretary responsible to the chamber for?

2. What questions are allowed to be asked or will be answered?

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (15:12): I thank the honourable member for her question. I think we just have to reflect back a few months when the President advised the chamber that I have no responsibility in answering questions to this chamber as the parliamentary secretary. We have had this discussion that it is not the responsibility of the parliamentary secretary to answer questions in the chamber. I have been advised—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! This isn't a conversation.

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE: We were advised earlier that that wasn't necessarily a responsibility of the parliamentary secretary. I am happy to seek advice from the Clerk to see what is the responsibility in regard to question time. I am happy to talk about what we are doing in autism, because it is something that has not happened before in South Australia.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE: I'm more than happy to say that I am not the minister for autism. I am the parliamentary secretary for autism and I am the first parliamentary secretary in the entire world to focus on autism.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE: The Hon. Jing Lee says to do something about what we are doing. Well, I can assure you that we are, because—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE: It is really important for this chamber to focus on the fact that this state, South Australia—

The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Attorney, you are not helping.

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE: —is leading the nation when it comes to autism. We are doing roles in South Australia that have never been done before. There has never been such a large network of autism inclusion teachers in any schools in our nation that I have been advised of. I have been advised that our consultation—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE: —is leading the way in the autistic community. I have been advised that we are bringing communities and private businesses together that have never been brought together before to be able to actually start building more inclusive environments. I have been advised that our consultation was the largest consultation for YourSAy when it came to a disability focus—and not just by a small amount.

We had over 180 people, I am advised, who applied for our very first in the nation, predominantly led, autistic advisory committee. This has not happened before. We are not just saying that we are going to start making change for the autistic community, we are walking side by side with the autistic community. My job is to do just this: to bring a spotlight to the autistic community and the autism community, a spotlight that has—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: You asked the question.

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE: —not been on this community before, and a spotlight—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: You asked the question.

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE: —I would like to point out, that those opposite—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: You asked the question.

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE: —have not put on this community. Those opposite have not put a spotlight on this. You had the opportunity when you had a reshuffle to also put in a shadow ministry for autism, but you didn't. That could have been a responsibility that you did—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE: —but it doesn't really surprise me that that was not the case.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! No, parliamentary secretary, I have given you leeway; conclude your remarks so that we can move on. I want to get to the crossbench.

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE: I am very proud of what we have been able to achieve. We have been able to achieve a lot in this space in a very short amount of time, and I cannot wait to continue to work side by side with the autistic community, getting out into the community, holding forums and hearing what is important to them—not just hearing, but listening and also acting on their advice.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Hanson. The Hon. Mr Hanson. The Hon. Mr Hanson, I have given you the call three times now.

The Hon. J.E. HANSON: I was just so impressed by that answer, sir.