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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-02-23 Daily Xml
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APY LANDS, HOUSING

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (14:47): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Regional Development representing the Minister for Housing a question about the dire state of housing on the APY lands.

The PRESIDENT: Without the opinion.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS: Members may be aware that there was a recent report regarding three houses that were built for families at Pukatja on the APY lands last year. Residents say they are still not being used, despite existing homes in the area being overcrowded. Existing residents have grown increasingly frustrated that the houses remain empty. The houses were originally built by the Australian Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program for families assisting Indigenous communities on the lands. The fact that they remain empty is a slap in the face to both these families and the local communities also struggling with accommodation.

Housing on the APY lands is too limited, and too much taxpayers' money has been spent for these houses to remain empty any longer. Can the minister provide details on the exact time frame when the allocated tenants are expected to move in, because Housing SA has indicated that it should happen soon, or will this be yet another case of failed bureaucracy under the Rann government?

The PRESIDENT: The honourable minister will ignore the opinion.

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) (14:48): I will refer those questions to the relevant minister in another place, but I do have to reiterate the Hon. Paul Holloway's comments and remind the opposition that, when it formed a Liberal government prior to us, its performance in relation to the APY lands across all policy areas was nothing short of a disgrace—an absolute disgrace—not just in terms of housing, but policing, education and health. There is no policy area where the opposition could do anything less but hang its head in shame. So, it is somewhat of an audacity that the opposition can stand up in this place and ask such a question when, in fact, it has no track record whatsoever.

The Hon. T.J. Stephens: I've asked a simple question; give us the answer!

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: He can throw whatever little hissy fit he likes, Mr President. He can have a little hissy fit in his seat. It is a shame that he did not show such emotional energy and interest in what the former Liberal government failed to achieve when it was in government. I will gladly pass on those questions to the relevant minister but, again, members of the opposition should do nothing short of hanging their heads in shame in terms of their track record in the relation to the APY lands. Absolute shame; nothing short of a disgrace.

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