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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-02-23 Daily Xml
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NATIONAL PLAN TO REDUCE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (15:08): I have a supplementary question arising from the answer. If the minister is so committed to the safety of women and children, will she urgently communicate with the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs about the lack of a safe house for women and children on APY lands and the lack of even a tender being put out for a project that is now well overdue?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises) (15:08): Do you mean the Umuwa facility?

The Hon. T.A. Franks: Yes.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: I am happy to provide some advice about that particular facility. Of course, putting forward strategies to address domestic violence is a difficult enough issue and a challenging enough policy on its own and, in terms of addressing those issues in Aboriginal communities, there are significantly increased challenges, which we do indeed try to grapple with.

I am advised that funding of $4.5 million was provided by the commonwealth to the South Australian government in June 2008 to implement Mullighan recommendations regarding child protection, family safety and court facilities. I am advised that a proposal was put forward for a courts administration centre at Umuwa that would incorporate court facilities and specialist services to provide assistance in child protection cases. Subsequently, the Courts Administration Authority was notified that they do not require the services of a courthouse attached to that facility.

Discussions have been held with the federal minister, Jenny Macklin, about alternative uses for that funding, and there is strong agreement that it will be used for the purposes of a facility that promotes child and community safety, consistent with the Mulligan recommendations. I have been advised that discussions are ongoing between state and commonwealth agencies to progress these plans. I have been advised that the development of safe houses on the lands is being addressed through ongoing discussions with local organisations, including the NPY Women's Council and APY and state and commonwealth governments.

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