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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2010-11-25 Daily Xml
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YUENDUMU FAMILIES

The Hon. S.W. KEY (Ashford) (14:18): My question is directed to the Premier. Can the Premier update the house on any developments relating to the support provided to the people of the Yuendumu community during their time in Adelaide?

The Hon. M.D. RANN (Ramsay—Premier, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change) (14:18): On 12 November, approximately 90 people from the Northern Territory community of Yuendumu departed the Fort Largs Police Academy to return to the Northern Territory. The members of the Yuendumu community returned to the territory of their own accord—it was their own decision—and worked with the territory government on transport arrangements.

Since their arrival in Adelaide in September, the South Australian government provided for their accommodation, health care, educational and other support, despite being given virtually no notice of their arrival. Our concern was always the safety and wellbeing of these members. I was very pleased to go out to the northern suburbs to meet with leaders of the community and some of the children involved shortly after their arrival.

When the South Australian government first became aware that this group would be arriving, we organised emergency accommodation at an Anglicare facility in Elizabeth, which I then visited. On 1 October 2010 the Yuendumu community members moved to the Fort Largs Police Academy where they were provided with 24-hour support. SA police were very accommodating in making the Fort Largs academy available and in providing access to caterers and cleaners.

To provide for the educational needs of the children, I am advised that the Department of Education and Children's Services established a classroom at Fort Largs. The Education Department also liaised extensively with the principal of the Yuendumu school in relation to educational needs and requirements—21 children participated in the education programs and four preschool children also attended a nearby children's centre.

Health issues were managed by a health team provided by the Central Northern Adelaide Health Service who had a regular presence at the site. There were also three adults who received dialysis treatment at the Royal Adelaide and also, I understand, at Hampstead.

Despite the extensive support provided by the South Australian government, Adam Giles, the Northern Territory member for Braitling, has made some offensive, hypocritical and simply untrue comments about my role in this matter. Today he has accused me of being a racist. This is the same member of parliament who, apparently, called asylum seekers 'scum' and then denied that he had used a four-letter word, which he was later forced to reveal.

The South Australian government support for the members of the Yuendumu community is absolutely clear. What is not clear is Adam Giles' involvement in the matter. Perhaps Adam Giles should tell us about his role in the situation, which saw about 100 people from Yuendumu given a one-way ticket out of the territory with virtually no notice.

When they arrived in South Australia with virtually no notice and no planning, the South Australian government went to extraordinary trouble to arrange accommodation, health care, education and other support for the families for nearly two months. That is a lot more than Adam Giles did. I am told he is not the territory's best and brightest, and the word that I hear most in the Northern Territory is that he completely lacks any substance. When he played football, I think that his IQ was printed on his guernsey.

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