Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Australians. In January the Prime Minister promised a $250 million package for Central Australia, which the government claimed would improve community safety, create jobs and improve health services. More than six months later, how much of this money has actually been spent?

Linda Burney (Barton, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can I thank the member for her question and say that the rollout of the $250 million is going remarkably well. We have upgraded roads and water facilities in outlying communities. We have made available money to a women's service there that deals with domestic violence. We've increased funding for the Northern Territory women's legal service in Katherine, which was needing additional money because of the imposts on that. We have also made some commitments in terms of education. We have also spent $25 million on youth services which, by the way, were running out of money in June under your government.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Has the minister concluded her answer?

Linda Burney (Barton, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Not quite.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will hear from the acting Leader of the Opposition.

Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It was a specific question about how much of the $250 million has actually been spent. I am comfortable if the minister would like to return to the chamber at a later point to actually outline how much of that $250 million has been spent.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The point of order was on relevance. I will go back to my earlier explanation: direct relevance and direct answers aren't the same thing. The point of order was on relevance. I am just asking the minister to continue with her answer because she is talking about the expenditure, where it is being allocated and the program is involved.

Linda Burney (Barton, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I conclude my answer by saying that the rollout has been collaborative. We've established an Aboriginal leaders group in Central Australia to assist the government with that rollout and to listen to those people. We are doing further work—in fact, I'm going to Alice Springs in three weeks time.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister has finished her answer, but I will hear from the acting leader on a point of order.

Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm seeking leave to table a document: the Prime Minister's February media release, titled A better, safer future for Central Australia. I assume the Leader of the House will have no objections, as he has been tabling articles in the public domain all week. May we table it in order to assist the minister to return to the House with an exact figure of how much of $250 million has been spent?

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The acting leader is seeking to table a document.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's a media release. It's public. Leave is not granted.