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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-02-11 Daily Xml
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APY Lands, Governance

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (15:10): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation questions about governance of the APY lands.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS: I refer the minister to his answer yesterday and also note that his predecessor rarely visited the APY lands. Some of the problems and concerns of Anangu may have been alleviated if the previous minister was willing to spend time in the APY lands and see for himself the implication of decisions made in an air-conditioned office in Adelaide. I trust that the current minister understands this. My questions, therefore, are:

1. Why is the minister consulting the APY Executive, given the current allegations against and dysfunction of the same?

2. How soon will the minister be visiting the APY lands?

3. How often does the minister expect to visit the APY lands this year?

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:11): I think they've finished, Mr President.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The honourable minister has the floor.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: If the Hon. David Ridgway would like to let his colleague have the opportunity to hear my answer, I am prepared to start.

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Minister, just go on with the answer, please.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: I thank the honourable member for his question and, as I said yesterday, his very genuine interest in this area. I met with some members of the APY Executive last week. I had a request—they were in Adelaide and requested to meet with me and I was happy to do so. I am very keen to meet with anyone, if I am able, to hear as wide a views as possible before making decisions.

I will, in the not too distant future, be travelling to the lands myself. I visited there a number of times when I worked for the minister for Aboriginal affairs and have some very fond memories of sleeping in swags in creek beds, partly because I could not sleep in the same room as the former minister because he snored like a train. I am happy to talk to the honourable member about what I am doing and what results I get from my consultations.

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