The South Australian Minister for Human Services has apologised after referring to "jungle drums" when talking about Indigenous housing.

Key points: Minister refers to "jungle drums" when answering a question in SA Parliament

Minister refers to "jungle drums" when answering a question in SA Parliament Aboriginal MP Kyam Maher says elders are concerned about the use of the phrase

Aboriginal MP Kyam Maher says elders are concerned about the use of the phrase He says it could be considered racist

Michelle Lensink was answering a question from Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Kyam Maher in State Parliament yesterday.

"As the honourable member has heard on the jungle drums, I will be visiting the APY Lands later this month," Ms Lensink said.

Mr Maher, who is Indigenous, said it was "unfortunate terminology", particularly when talking about Indigenous policy.

"I've had the opportunity to talk to a number of Aboriginal elders who are concerned about that sort of language," Mr Maher told ABC Radio Adelaide this morning.

"The Minister has apologised and I think we'll move on from this, but I think over time we come to realise the power of language.

"As Adam Goodes, who has become a good friend of mine, has said 'it's not necessarily what the person [using the] language intends, but how others take that language'."

The phrase "hearing something on the jungle drums" is similar to "hearing something through the grapevine".

Minister issued apology after making statement

Ms Lensink said she had apologised to Mr Maher personally and that she had "deep respect for the Indigenous community".

"I meant no offence and I do apologise if I offended anyone yesterday," she said.

Even outside of referring to Indigenous issues, Mr Maher said "jungle drums" could be considered racist because it was referring to a "primitive form of communication".

He said people were starting to realise more the impact language had, even if they did not mean to offend.

"People in the past like Nicky Winmar and Adam Goodes have stood up when they've seen or heard things and I think people understand more the language they use, the power of that language, and how it's taken," he said.

According to Hansard, the last reference to jungle drums in South Australian Parliament before yesterday was by Labor MP Ian Hunter when talking about renewable energy in 2015.