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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-03-09 Daily Xml
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Question Time

YUENDUMU FAMILIES

Mrs REDMOND (Heysen—Leader of the Opposition) (14:02): My question is to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation. Has the minister offered the Warlpiri Aboriginals from Yuendumu in the Northern Territory relocation from the Adelaide Parklands to the government's transitional accommodation centres; and, if not, why not?

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI (Hartley—Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers, Minister Assisting the Premier in Social Inclusion) (14:03): There are a couple of things that I would like to say about this matter. The first—

An honourable member: Answer the question.

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: I will answer the question. The first thing is that camping in the Parklands is not acceptable behaviour, and about that we can be very clear. The second thing is that—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: —finding a resolution to this matter is slightly more complex. However, I can say very confidently that my officers and the officers of a number of other government agencies, together with the Adelaide City Council, have been working with this group to ascertain the status of this group. As part of that, they have been offering them a number of options for accommodation. I need to check on the transitional—

The Hon. I.F. Evans interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: I need to be clear. At last count we were dealing with a small number of people who were camping in the Parklands. We were dealing with a number of, say, 10 to 15. That is much smaller than the group who actually came down from the Northern Territory. My officers have been having detailed discussions with these people. I can get back to you about that particular service, but I can tell you—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: Do you want an answer? I can tell you that—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: —Street to Home has been down there. I can tell you that people have been staying with family and friends. We are not dealing with people who are homeless. We are dealing with people who came down here because, as I understand it, they were attending a football carnival. We are dealing with people who would—

Mr PENGILLY: I rise on a point of order: relevance. The question was very direct and the minister is waffling.

The SPEAKER: No. Sit down. I do not think this is irrelevant. This is a particular issue that is in the news. I think we need to listen carefully to the minister's response.

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: As I understand it, we are dealing with people who were here for a football carnival; they were here for South Australia's famous Spirit Festival; they were here visiting family and friends; they have been here painting, they have been painting, exhibiting and selling their work. We are not dealing with homeless people. We are dealing with people who have an income.

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Norwood, you were warned twice yesterday. You will go out today, if you are not careful. You have a very loud voice.

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