Local Government Indigenous Representation

The Hon. A.L. McLACHLAN (16:13): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation a question regarding Indigenous representation in local government.

Leave granted.

The Hon. A.L. McLACHLAN: The Local Government Association of South Australia recently published an updated summary of data on council elections from the year 1983 to the most recent local council elections that took place last month. The statistical summary reveals that, in 1997, there were 14 Aboriginal candidates who nominated to stand in the election; however, this decreased to eight Aboriginal candidates in 2003 and to only four Aboriginal candidates this year.

Furthermore, the data reveals that, other than the year 2000, this is the only year since 1985 when an Aboriginal candidate has not been elected to local government. The minister has previously made mention in this chamber that the government has policies that are aimed at developing and providing abilities for governance and leadership in Aboriginal communities. My questions for the minister are:

1. Can the minister explain to the chamber why the government's policies have failed to encourage a higher number of Aboriginal South Australians nominating to stand in local government elections?

2. Given that there is now no Aboriginal or Indigenous representation in local government, what initiatives, if any, is the government contemplating to address this situation?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (16:14): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. It is, indeed, a very concerning issue, if it was right. On my understanding, his facts are wrong—albeit the issue is a very important one. I understand that Mr Ian Crombie was elected to Coober Pedy council at this recent round, and there may be other councillors who have been elected who we have not yet been apprised of.

These are matters for the Minister for Local Government in the other place, Mr Brock, and I will take the honourable member's question to him and seek a response on his behalf. Having said that, having more Aboriginal persons elected to local government is a big priority. I have been talking to communities as I get out and about around the state about how they could be more involved. I have discussed this with communities in Port Augusta, Adelaide and also in Ceduna but, of course, one needs to get the candidates.

Travis Rogers is an Indigenous community member in Port Lincoln and was elected onto the Port Lincoln council and I am also advised that Mr Mark Lovett was elected to the Mount Gambier council; he is also an Indigenous member of the council. So, I think that before the honourable member comes here with questions, it is probably appropriate that we actually check our facts first.

Notwithstanding that, we would like to see more Aboriginal members become local government councillors and, indeed, mayors. I would like to take that question to the minister in the other place and seek a response and hopefully work with the honourable member to help drive more interest in standing for local government into the next round of elections.