Community Cabinet in Coober Pedy

As part of the Community Cabinet visit to Coober Pedy, the invitation only barbecue exclusiveness turned out to be inclusiveness when about 500 individually name tagged guests went to the Greek Club for the SA Labour government open forum chaired by Premier Mike Rann. Most of his ministers and executives were there to answer any questions from the floor.

Trevor Berry, internet opal seller, asked what opal miners should do to attract government assistance for their industry. Mineral Resources Development minister Paul Holloway said they should get together and make a common voice instead of a fractured approach. He said 92% of the Precious Stones Field had not been explored yet.

Miner Darryl Borrett said that government paid drilling of 350 holes was a waste of time. A Lambina miner asked why Lambina got nothing of the $100,000 made available. Mr Holloway said that Lambina production had dropped a lot and $50,000 for the nearby Welbourne Hill field was appropriate.

Transport minister Trish White said that the Coober Pedy Mayor and councillors had convinced her that she should go out and look at the roads in the region. Premier Rann said that South Australia has 7.8% of the national population and 11.8% of the nation's roads, yet only gets 3.5% of Federal road funding. Nevertheless he promised that he would double road funding for Coober Pedy.

Education minister Jane Lomax-Smith said she would be personally available to anyone who wanted to talk about local education problems.

Health minister Lea Stevens was made aware by Fiona Collins that all expectant mothers have to go south for delivery, but because they are not going to see a specialist, they cannot get the Patient Assistance Transport Scheme funding.

Miner Boro Rapaic said that gambling was ruining Coober Pedy and all poker machines should be removed.

Councillor Mike Maylin said that police numbers and availability in Coober Pedy were seriously low. Miner Frank Novasel said that if the current amount of stealing keeps going much longer, someone was likely to be killed. Premier Rann's response was that vigilantes would be put behind bars quick smart.

Mabel Lecoviak said that the answer to the problem of stealing was to tackle the cause - lack of education, employment, and activities for youth.

A clear message outside the forum venue	Premier Rann and Cabinet	Standing room only in the Greek Club

Aboriginal Health

The Umoona Tjutagku Health Service Inc. was the venue for the launch of the Coober Pedy Report on the "Better medication management for Aboriginal people with mental health disorders and their carers".

MC Maurine Williams introduced the speakers -

        * Mr Scott Wilson from Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Council (SA) Inc.,

        * Dr Inge Kowanko, Senior Research Fellow Flinders University,

* Prof Charlotte de Crespigny, Professor of Nursing (Alcohol & Other Drugs) Flinders

University.

The Report was launched by The Hon. Terrance Roberts, SA Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation.

Seated at front, r to l, Prof. de Crespigny, Hon TerranceRoberts, Scott Wilson	Maurine Williams, Ian Crombie