❓ Question on Notice regarding the closure of Oombulgurri community in 2011, focusing on criminal convictions, support for displaced residents, and concerns raised by Amnesty International regarding Indigenous rights.
AnsweredQoN 1216Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
OOMBULGURRI — CLOSURE
1216. Hon SALLY TALBOT to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs:
(1) How many
criminal convictions resulted from investigations into the violent and sexual
abuse of children in the Oombulgurri community that led to the government
closing the community and evicting the residents in 2011?
(2) What steps
has the government taken to minimise the trauma and hardship for the women and
children who were evicted from their homes as a result of the government's
closure of the Oombulgurri community?
(3) Is the
minister aware of the concerns expressed by Amnesty International that the
closure of Oombulgurri is not consistent with Australia's obligations
under articles 11 and 15 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights and articles 8.1, 8.2 and 12 of the United Nations Declaration
on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in that the closure violates the right of
Indigenous people not to be dispossessed of their land?
(4) If the
minister disagrees with the views in (3), can he explain why?
1216. Hon SALLY TALBOT to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs:
(1) How many
criminal convictions resulted from investigations into the violent and sexual
abuse of children in the Oombulgurri community that led to the government
closing the community and evicting the residents in 2011?
(2) What steps
has the government taken to minimise the trauma and hardship for the women and
children who were evicted from their homes as a result of the government's
closure of the Oombulgurri community?
(3) Is the
minister aware of the concerns expressed by Amnesty International that the
closure of Oombulgurri is not consistent with Australia's obligations
under articles 11 and 15 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights and articles 8.1, 8.2 and 12 of the United Nations Declaration
on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in that the closure violates the right of
Indigenous people not to be dispossessed of their land?
(4) If the
minister disagrees with the views in (3), can he explain why?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) In 2008 the
State Coroner, Alastair Hope, investigated five deaths in the Oombulgurri
community, four of which were suicides, and found the community to be in a
state of crisis. This included high rates of domestic violence, child neglect,
sexual abuse and excessive alcohol consumption. The exact number of criminal
convictions resulting from investigations into the violence and sexual abuse of
children in Oombulgurri cannot be provided within the time frame available.
However, I will provide a response on the next sitting day.
(2) The
Departments for Child Protection and Family Support, and Health arranged
counselling and support during the investigations, and during and after
relocating the women and children to Wyndham.
(3) Yes.
(4) I have
responded to a letter received from Amnesty International. The state government
remains convinced that the decision to close a community in a state of crisis
was necessary and in the best interests of residents and the wider community.
some notice of the question.
(1) In 2008 the
State Coroner, Alastair Hope, investigated five deaths in the Oombulgurri
community, four of which were suicides, and found the community to be in a
state of crisis. This included high rates of domestic violence, child neglect,
sexual abuse and excessive alcohol consumption. The exact number of criminal
convictions resulting from investigations into the violence and sexual abuse of
children in Oombulgurri cannot be provided within the time frame available.
However, I will provide a response on the next sitting day.
(2) The
Departments for Child Protection and Family Support, and Health arranged
counselling and support during the investigations, and during and after
relocating the women and children to Wyndham.
(3) Yes.
(4) I have
responded to a letter received from Amnesty International. The state government
remains convinced that the decision to close a community in a state of crisis
was necessary and in the best interests of residents and the wider community.
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