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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-09-14 Daily Xml
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APY LANDS, FOOD SECURITY

Mr MARSHALL (Norwood) (15:03): My question is again to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation. Will the minister explain why Mr Singer, Chairman of APY, can be on the minister's executive action team when one of the two APY lands' community gardens is located at Mr Singer's homeland, 23 kilometres from the nearest community? Why isn't this a conflict of interest?

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) (15:03): I understand that they want to get me.

An honourable member: It's not about you.

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: I understand that they want to get me, but now—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: Now they are attacking Aboriginal people. Now they are attacking Bernard Singer.

Mr WILLIAMS: Point of order, Madam Speaker.

The SPEAKER: Order! Point of order.

Mr WILLIAMS: I thought your rulings just a moment ago made it very clear that you weren't going to stand ministers debating the answers. The question was very clear. It is not about what we think: it is about answering the question.

The SPEAKER: Thank you for your point of order, but I don't uphold that. Minister.

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: I actually have a letter here from Mr Singer and, with the indulgence of the house—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Minister for Transport and the member for Davenport will stop arguing across the floor.

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: —I will read the letter:

Please be advised that at the board meeting (of the APY Executive) on Wednesday 7 September 2011, the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Executive Board confirmed their support for the current initiatives being undertaken within the APY Food Security Project.

In their discussions, the Board acknowledged the work completed to date in establishing the market gardens at Watarru and Railway Bore. Furthermore the Board stated that these gardens provide an opportunity for employment and community activity for residents of these locations, and expect that produce from these gardens will be made available to supplement the supply of fresh fruit and vegetables to community stores in their areas.

Dr McFetridge interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: They go on:

The Board also acknowledged that these gardens, and the garden planned for Sandy Bore, are part of the broader strategy—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI:

—in tackling food security across the APY Lands. Other initiatives have been identified within the APY Food Security Strategic Plan including programs to assist in income management.

The SPEAKER: Point of order.

Mr WILLIAMS: Point of order, Madam Speaker: the letter from Mr Singer is very interesting, but the question was: why is it not a conflict of interest that government money is being spent putting the garden in Mr Singer's backyard?

The SPEAKER: Thank you. I do not uphold your point of order. This is a letter; this is an explanation of your question and why the minister has made the decision she has made.

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Norwood!

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: It goes on: 'The Board is committed to continue its work with the APY-EAT.' These gardens are but one of a much broader strategy in tackling food security issues on the APY lands. They are a trial, but they have absolutely, without question, captured the imagination of communities. We are working with communities; we will continue to work with communities on a bunch of issues in relation to food security, and that is all I have to say.

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