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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-10-12 Daily Xml
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Aboriginal Housing Strategy

The Hon. T.T. NGO (15:24): My question is to the Minister for Human Services about housing. Why does the new tender for remote housing in the West Coast communities of Yalata and Koonibba only refer to nine 'replacement' homes and not any additional homes in these communities? Across the minister's first term in government, will she deliver even one—just one—extra home in remote Aboriginal communities?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (15:25): I thank the honourable member for his question. Indeed, our government was the government that put our own hand into our pocket to stump up some funding for remote housing—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: —to the tune of—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Does the opposition wish to listen to the answer to the Hon. Mr Ngo's question?

The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order, leader!

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: —some $37½ million, which I understand is the first time the South Australian government has matched the commonwealth's financial—

The Hon. K.J. Maher: They gave us 293 last time.

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: That's the first time that the South Australian government has matched—

The Hon. K.J. Maher: How embarrassing!

The PRESIDENT: Order! Minister, continue.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: —the commonwealth's commitment to funding. I am not sure whether I will be allowed to speak or not, Mr President. You never really know here. In terms of the funding agreement—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: I know. Weeties and red cordial today. A total of 35 remote replacement houses will be delivered.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! I am trying to listen to the minister and I have great difficulty at the moment. Minister, continue your answer, please.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: The time frames on delivering these are subject to community consultation and sign-off. This strategy is based on an assessment that over the next five to 10 years there are 50 remote dwellings that are at the end of their life cycle and need to be replaced. To alleviate the high levels of overcrowding, all replacement houses will be replaced with an increase in bedroom numbers.

We are also very keen as part of the national partnership to ensure that we are supporting local Indigenous employment, with a minimum of some 30 per cent of the workforce—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: —from the local communities. For the first time, two apprenticeships—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order, the Hon. Mr Wortley!

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: —and one certification in plumbing, electrical and pest control are in place with local Anangu. I think that's a really important arrangement for people who are living on the lands to be able to participate in that level of economic development.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Point of order.

The PRESIDENT: Point of order. I think the minister has concluded her answer.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: The point of order is relevance. She was asked about new housing and didn't address that once, only replacement housing.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: I have answered the question.

The PRESIDENT: There is no point of order.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister has been on her feet for some time, has answered the question—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: That's right. The Hon. Ms Lee has the call.

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