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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-02-05 Daily Xml
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ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS AND RECONCILIATION

Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (15:01): Will the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation provide a progress report on what the state government has done to advance Aboriginal affairs and reconciliation given that next Friday is the anniversary of the apology to the stolen generation?

In February 2008, the Prime Minister established a number of concrete targets designed to close the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians and improve life expectancy, education outcomes and employment opportunities. Three months later, the Prime Minister announced that, on the first working day of every parliamentary year, he would report to the parliament on the progress that his government has made on closing the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians. In 2009, federal parliament first sat on 3 February and, on that day, the Prime Minister failed to deliver the promised progress report.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for Early Childhood Development, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister Assisting the Premier in Cabinet Business and Public Sector Management) (15:02): I thank the honourable member for his question. I do not know how long he has, but I am happy to provide a more succinct answer for him going precisely to the things that he has put. I will start with our most remote community that is in the greatest crisis: the APY lands. When we came into government, we were presented with two Coroners reports, in quick succession, which documented circumstances of the dire degradation in those areas: out-of-control petrol sniffing and the suicides of a number of young people—really, a situation that could not stand. We initiated our own intervention and, indeed, we were heavily criticised for it, because it involved, in some senses, the rolling back of what some people would have regarded the capacity for those communities to control their own affairs.

Through the sustained efforts that have occurred over the last four or five years, we have almost eradicated petrol sniffing on the APY lands. That is a—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Well, it is a matter of some mirth for those opposite that somehow a whole lot of young brains are no longer being irreparably damaged through the process of petrol sniffing. That is a—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The deputy leader is warned a second time.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: —tangible and real effect of this government's policy. In relation to those remote communities, it was identified that another very significant factor bearing on the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal people—and having an obvious effect on their longevity—is the question of their housing. So, we advocated—and won—arrangements for housing to be directly provided by the state government in the APY lands, which has been massively augmented by recent commonwealth government announcements.

In relation to health, the health services that exist on the APY lands have been dramatically enhanced. The education facilities on the APY lands have been enhanced through the provision of social workers in a range of schools. In relation to the security issues in the APY lands, we have gone from a position of there being no police officers—just think of that: in this remote community where we know violence is rife, there were no police officers—under the previous government to now a commitment of 21. I think it is presently at something like 12.

Recently, the papers have reported that there are now a number of people being taken before the courts, which is evidence of the work that is occurring in those communities. The safety of people is intimately connected to their wellbeing and their ability to lead healthy lives. We have realised that it is most important to intervene as early as possible, so we have introduced in those remote communities—and, indeed, around the state—children's centres (variously described as child/parent centres) which provide support for parents and help for families in the crucial first three to five years of life before children go to preschool and then primary school.

This is having a dramatic effect in turning around nutrition. We have seen very important interventions on the APY lands through the continuing good work of Nganampa Health supported by the Minister for Health. We have seen dramatic improvements in the reduction in the number of failure-to-thrive babies in remote communities. We have also seen reductions in sexually transmitted diseases in those communities—once again, through the great work that has occurred by Nganampa Health.

Ms Chapman: An increase in marijuana use.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: The honourable member parrots this notion that there has been an increase in marijuana use on the APY lands. She does not have a basis for saying that. It was only ever measured once. It was found to be high, but the reality is that there has been no longitudinal study so she does not have a basis for saying that. It is not our study, we did not control it, we did not ask for it to be done, and we have not—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: The honourable member does not show any inkling or interest in the question of Aboriginal affairs until every now and then she hears a scrap of good news and likes to take political advantage of it. That is the usual approach from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.

An honourable member: A scrap of bad news.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: A scrap of bad news regarded as good news for the opposition. I have just spoken about a range of initiatives in our most remote and difficult community. There is, of course, a range of other communities that I could go to, but I think time will not permit that, and I am prepared to supplement my answer.

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON: I move:

That question time be extended by 10 minutes.

The SPEAKER: If only I could rule that out of order!

Motion carried.

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