Mr. Wyatt questions Premier Barnett on consultations with remote Aboriginal communities regarding potential closures. The Premier admits to no consultations, leading to a heated exchange in parliament about addressing the issue.

AnsweredQoN 909Legislative Assembly
Asked
13 November 2014
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

REMOTE
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES — CLOSURE
909. Mr B.S. WYATT to the
Premier:
I have a supplementary question. I refer to great social
challenge that the Premier just outlined. How many and which remote Aboriginal
communities has the Premier consulted about their closure?

AnswerView source ↗

None.
Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
As I said, I am honest with the people of Western Australia. I am telling the
people of Western Australia —
Mr W.J. Johnston interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Cannington, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
am telling the people of Western Australia, including all the Aboriginal people
and all the people in those communities that —
Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Mr Speaker, I am telling everyone —
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Mr Speaker, this is just —
The SPEAKER : Okay,
member for Cannington, I call you for the second time and the member for
Maylands for the first time.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
am letting everyone know that we face this issue that is upon us now. It would
be negligent to simply ignore it. It is going to be incredibly difficult for
the people directly concerned. It will have implications on regional towns and
cities and on government services, but we will have to deal with that. The only
sense I get from members opposite is that it is too hard and that they will
criticise it and throw rocks, but they are not actually up for it. They are not
up for tackling probably the biggest social issue this state has faced in
decades.

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