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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-02-10 Daily Xml
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APY Lands, Governance

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (15:54): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, questions about governance on the APY lands.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS: Before I start, can I congratulate the minister. He has an enormous task ahead of him and I am sure he looks forward to those challenges. The minister would be aware of the many questions asked of his predecessor on this issue by myself. He would also be aware that we passed legislation in this place at the tail end of the previous session enabling the minister to appoint an administrator immediately. The same problems remain with the governance of the APY lands, and the government realised this to the extent that they have refused to fund the board since July.

Presumably, responsibility for this portfolio was taken from the previous minister because of his failure to act. This parliament has gone to extraordinary lengths to grant powers to act and remedy this situation. My question is what is your plan and time frame to implement these measures? In other words, when will an administrator be appointed to the APY lands?

The PRESIDENT: This is the minister's first question, so let him give an answer in silence.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:55): I thank the honourable member for his very important question and I note the longstanding and genuine interest the honourable member has in matters on the APY lands and Aboriginal affairs in general. I might note that, while the Hon. Terry Stephens and I might not always agree on the best policy prescriptions, I know he shares mine and the rest of our goals of improving the lives of Aboriginal people in South Australia, and I look forward to having a constructive working relationship with not just the opposition but crossbenchers in this area.

It was a great honour and privilege to be appointed the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation last week. I think I was fortunate to serve effectively an apprenticeship in this role as chief of staff for a former member of this house, the late Terry Roberts, and during that time became very familiar with many of the challenges and issues surrounding those living on the APY lands. It has been a number of years since I have visited to the APY lands, but I look forward to going back soon.

At the end of last week I met with members of the APY Executive and I will continue to listen to and consult with the APY Executive, as well as people living on the lands and those with an interest in these matters. I have had initial discussions and I will continue to receive further advice from my department on these matters. As a matter of principle, I am not opposed to appointing an administrator. However, my preference is for a consensus decision to be reached.

I know that there are a number of members who, as I said, have a longstanding and genuine interest in these matters and I invite members, if they have issues, to feel free to raise them with me at any time, not just in this chamber. I will consider these matters in due course and decide on the most appropriate course of action.

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