Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (14:21): My question is to the Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services. Does the minister have plans to open any new relief centres in addition to the ones in Berri, Mannum and Murray Bridge, and, if not, why not?
The Hon. N.F. COOK (Hurtle Vale—Minister for Human Services) (14:21): The relief centres and the relief response are attributed to, as I explained before, the South Australian Housing Authority. In the case of an emergency like this, they become the state controller in terms of relief.
In terms of relief centres, yes, we are certainly looking at alternate and other options. We've got one ready to go in your electorate. We aren't releasing the location of that until we need people to go there. It wouldn't be wise to have people turning up to a place for information that is not yet stood up, but I can have a talk with the member after question time to reassure him regarding the very concrete plans for another relief centre, which is absolutely required further down the river.
As we know, the expected flood obviously will arrive in more distal locations towards the coast over the next coming weeks. I am very happy to talk to the member offline about that, but we won't announce a relief centre location until it is about to be opened because we don't want people actually turning up for advice at a place that isn't yet staffed, opened or necessary, as has happened with this current one, which was announced and opened today.
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