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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-09-07 Daily Xml
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Question Time

Yadu Health Aboriginal Corporation

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (15:10): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question on the topic of health buildings in Ceduna to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: Last month, concerns were raised by the Yadu Health Aboriginal Corporation in Ceduna by that Aboriginal community-controlled organisation's leaders regarding their health clinic. They stated that their 50-year-old building had already reached the end of its life and now posed a safety threat for patients and staff alike. The Yadu Health Aboriginal Corporation in Ceduna say that between 30 and 40 per cent of the building from which it operates has been deemed unsafe due to water damage, asbestos and mould. It has been described as catastrophic damage by Senator Marielle Smith and, not to be partisan about this, it has been described as beyond redemption by the Liberal federal member for Grey.

My question to the South Australian minister is: what actions has South Australia Health taken on this issue? I understand that a survey was done and reported to InDaily that there was not a problem. What was the status of that survey and why did it not find mould, asbestos and water damage to be a danger to those patients and staff?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:12): I thank the honourable member for her question. I note that it is a primary question. In an earlier session another member thought that that was a supplementary on a completely irrelevant matter.

In relation to the Yadu facilities, I agree with you that they are unacceptable, and I know that because I have toured them. On 27 April 2021, I toured the facility, and it certainly is ripe for redevelopment. I think it is important to appreciate that the Yadu Health Aboriginal Corporation is an Aboriginal community-controlled health service, is funded through the Indigenous Australians health program and receives more than 70 per cent of its funding from the commonwealth government.

SA Health currently provides facilities for the operation of the Yadu Health Aboriginal Corporation. It is on the same grounds as the Ceduna Health Service. Yadu is seeking assistance to cover the costs associated with the demolition of the existing building and building a new bespoke health centre, which will provide greater care for clients in the community. Yadu has previously applied for grants to construct a new building; however, they have not been successful. One of the factors in the past has been the lack of security of the title to the land.

I am proud of the fact that it is this government that dealt with that longstanding issue, and the grant of a 99-year lease to the land has now been finalised, which will assist the organisation in attracting funding to replace the building, and I, too, would hope that the commonwealth government would favourably consider grant applications.

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