Ceduna

The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO (15:09): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Attorney-General in regard to Ceduna.

Leave granted.

The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO: It was reported in the media that community leaders in Ceduna have joined business owners in calling for action to combat what they call lawlessness in the town. A majority of the complaints stem from a rise in antisocial behaviour following alcohol abuse, as well as child neglect, with some community leaders calling it 'absolute bedlam'. Also, concerns have been raised about the contribution following the abolishment of cashless debit cards within Ceduna. My questions to the Attorney-General are:

1. Will the Attorney consider increasing the roster of the Magistrates Court and the Nunga Court in Ceduna?

2. What actions has he taken as Minister for Aboriginal Affairs to ensure that the lawlessness that has been reported in Ceduna ceases following the removal of cashless debit cards?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:10): I thank the honourable member for her question. I know I have talked about this in this chamber in only recent weeks, and that was particularly following a visit about a month ago, I think, when I had the opportunity to spend some time in Ceduna, particularly with Aboriginal leaders in Ceduna.

Certainly, concerns were raised with me by a number of Aboriginal community leaders. A lot of those concerns, however, revolved around the misrepresentation of things in Ceduna, particularly by local Liberal members in that part of the world. I do know that regularly there are requests made and there are variations made to things like liquor licensing and conditions on areas in Ceduna in response to things that are happening at the time and I commend the commissioner, who has been very responsive to requests and had a lot of them made by local community leaders, including Aboriginal community leaders.

I don't think it is an agreed fact, as the honourable member may have indicated, that any form of cashless card changes has been a catalyst for a different resulting behaviour in the community. I think that is a very contested point of view that the honourable member holds, that isn't shared with a lot of other people in the area.