Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-02-19 Daily Xml

Contents

APY LANDS, FOOD SECURITY

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (14:42): I have a supplementary. Does the minister stand by the previous minister's decision to spend $18,690 on a flight and trip to the lands of less than 24 hours to promote the Watarru garden with a PR exercise, while the shop itself at Watarru had actually remained closed for a week before that, and continues to be closed?

The PRESIDENT: I am certain that that is no supplementary but, however, minister, if you wish to provide an answer.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (14:42): The honourable member embarrasses herself when she comes in here and wants to talk sincerely about these issues and raises these old tired questions. Let me say this. APY lands food security strategy is in its third year of a six-year implementation and includes seven key focus areas, as I have outlined. These areas range from consumer protection and financial wellbeing to store management support.

One example is the Come Cook with your Kids program. For the past 12 months, this program has been conducted each school holiday period to engage children and adults in learning how to cook healthy foods. I am pleased to report that this program will continue in 2013.

I know the gardens have received some attention in this place, sir, but I say again that the community wants these programs. The community is asking for these programs, and we will continue to work with local communities to provide programs they indicate to us they want.