Santo Santoro (Queensland, Liberal Party, Minister for Ageing) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yesterday Senator Bartlett asked me a question and a supplementary question on Indigenous affairs. I undertook to provide further information and I seek leave to have my further response incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The answer read as follows—

The government believes that good governance is critical in the administration of Aboriginal communities. Where this does not exist and where the wellbeing of those communities is being threatened, the necessary administrative changes will be made. This is the same as occurs throughout the mainstream local government system from time to time.

In relation to the specific instances to which Senator Bartlett referred I am advised that the Pukatja Community on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands is not facing a shutdown. FACSIA Program Funding Agreements have yet to be offered to any community or service provider.

The current time frame is consistent with other years and no APY Lands community will be shut down. There is no Administrator appointed to Pukatja, or any other community on the APY Lands, nor will Indigenous staff replaced.

The decision to appoint Advisers for the APY Lands in 2004 was made by the South Australian State Government.

The State Government Advisers did not replace sacked councils.

The State Government Adviser role was discontinued when Mr. Bob Collins had a serious car accident preventing him from continuing in the role.

The Australian and State Governments fund a wide range of programmes and projects on the APY lands but there are no Australian or State Government appointed Administrators.

Australian and State Government efforts in the APY lands are focused on better co- ordination and linkages between Anangu people.