Question regarding the use of Royalties for Regions funding to support remote Aboriginal communities threatened with closure and the consultation process with those communities. The Minister supports using the funds for reform but not to replace Commonwealth funding and has already begun preliminary consultations.

AnsweredQoN 314Legislative Council
Asked
24 March 2015
Portfolio
Regional Development

QuestionView source ↗

REMOTE
ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES — CLOSURE
314. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the minister
representing the Minister for Regional Development:
I refer to the recent public reports and parliamentary debates about the
proposed closure of remote Aboriginal communities.
(1) Will the minister promote the use of
royalties for regions money to support the 274 remote Aboriginal communities
threatened with closure; and, if not, why not?
(2) Will the minister consult with
Aboriginal communities threatened with closure; and, if not, why not?
(3) If consultation is to be carried out,
when will this commence and what will be the terms of reference?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) The Minister
for Regional Development supports the use of royalties for regions funds to
promote reform and improved outcomes in remote Aboriginal communities, but not
to simply backfill services previously funded by the commonwealth.
(2)–(3) The
minister has already had preliminary meetings in Broome on 5 March 2015 with
the Alliance of WA Aboriginal Land Councils, the Kimberley Land Council and
other stakeholders. A broader consultation program is being planned and will be
rolled out by the state government over the course of the year.

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