[Greens-Media] Greens Declare No Confidence in Minister Hunter

[Franks, Office]

Greens Declare No Confidence in Minister Hunter

December 2, 2014

Greens Aboriginal Affairs spokesperson Tammy Franks MLC this evening declared that she has no confidence in the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs after an APY Bill was rushed into the Parliament without due process.

Minister Ian Hunter hurriedly introduced the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Land Rights (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill 2014 into the Parliament today, during the final week of sitting for the year.

Ms Franks said there had not been appropriate consultation leading up to its introduction.

"There have only been a few occasions where the Government has tried to ram legislation through this Parliament: one of those occasions related to a politicians' pay rise, another to the cricket World Cup and the other occasions have related to Aboriginal Affairs," she said.

"Somehow, when it comes to this portfolio, the respect for self-determination and due process isn't there.

"I don't purport that everything is as it should be with the APY Executive, but I don't see this as the way to approach it.

"The Minister himself hasn't visited the APY lands for 14 months, so there is certainly cause for a lack of confidence.

"I have a lack of confidence in this Minister and this Bill.

"The Bill effectively allows the Minister to strip the Board of its powers for any reason. That step should not be taken lightly by this Parliament - and certainly should not have been taken without previous steps by this Minister in adequately consulting and allowing members to properly consider the legislation before us.

"The Weatherill Labor Government is treating the portfolio of Aboriginal Affairs with contempt and this lack of consultation and due process cannot and should not be tolerated."

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