❓ Question regarding funding for remote Aboriginal housing and essential services, contrasting the McGowan government's commitment with the federal Liberal-National government's actions. The Minister's answer highlights the importance of culturally appropriate housing and criticizes the previous government's approach.
AnsweredQoN 381Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
REMOTE ABORIGINAL HOUSING
381. Ms J.M. FREEMAN to the Minister for Housing:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's success in securing a commitment from the federal Labor
opposition to provide $1.5 billion over 10 years for remote Indigenous housing
should it win the election on Saturday.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how this would support the provision of essential
services to some of the state's most vulnerable Western Australians?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house whether the federal Liberal–National
government has offered the same support?
381. Ms J.M. FREEMAN to the Minister for Housing:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's success in securing a commitment from the federal Labor
opposition to provide $1.5 billion over 10 years for remote Indigenous housing
should it win the election on Saturday.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how this would support the provision of essential
services to some of the state's most vulnerable Western Australians?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house whether the federal Liberal–National
government has offered the same support?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for the question and her enduring commitment to all Indigenous
Australians, not only in her home electorate, but also right across the state,
like so many on this side who are committed and wedded to the outcomes of first
nation Western Australians to share in the same prosperity that we in this
house have all shared. During the hurly-burly of the federal election campaign,
an announcement was made by Bill Shorten, the federal Leader of the Opposition,
around the area of remote funding. This came on the back of a significant
amount of lobbying on behalf of those communities that we support, not only in Western
Australia, but also South Australia and Queensland, that are particularly
affected by the Morrison government walking away from those communities. It
simply walked away, with a single termination payment of $121 million. We
really welcome the commitment of the federal Leader of the Opposition, Bill
Shorten, to first nation Australians in remote communities by matching a similar
amount of $121.5 million through the next financial year to ensure that we have
two things: firstly, an enduring commitment and statement to first nation Western
Australians that we believe in their right to exist and live the life they need
to live in culturally appropriate ways is enshrined and supported, and,
secondly, breathing room to recast the whole debate around remote housing and
move away from a housing-only model and
understand what we have all come to know. The evidence has already said to us
that a housing- first model around closing the gap and the totality of
the life journey for our first nation Australians is something that we need to
focus on. I and the whole cabinet are entirely in lockstep about creating
better outcomes across Indigenous lives, not just for the homes that they own
and live in. We support 165 remote communities across Western Australia,
including, beyond that, the conversion of town camps such as One Mile and
Kennedy Hill in Broome, which we can normalise as suburbs and through which we
can give genuine housing options across the spectrum to Aboriginal people. It
will also help us double down on the transitional housing program that had been
established for some time to allow Aboriginal people to have a job and at the
same time get housing support and have a future life.
This contrasts significantly with
what the previous Liberal–National government did under Mr Barnett,
when he had significant indifference to the plight of Aboriginal people. He
said some most egregious things to those people that were basically an insult.
Mr Z.R.F. Kirkup interjected.
The SPEAKER : Are you
finished, member for Dawesville? I call you to order.
Mr P.C. TINLEY : When he got
up —
Mr Z.R.F. Kirkup interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Dawesville, I call you to order for the first and second time.
Mr P.C. TINLEY : He got up and
told a crowd of people to have some sympathy and to walk in his shoes when it
comes to the sort of pain that he was suffering. He told the Aboriginal people
of Western Australia that they should suspend all their dispossession and the
intergenerational transfer of poverty and systemic violence because the Premier
of Western Australia was seeking some sympathy for the egregious effect that he
had on our finances that he no longer had the capacity to fix. He rolled over
and had his tummy tickled for a handful of silver coins over the remote
communities sustainment funding for the remote water and power that we are
meant to provide to these communities. It was a one-off payment to allow the
federal government to walk away. That is the problem. That is the difference
between this side and that side of the house. We believe they have a right to
exist. We believe they have a right to a future—the same as ours.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr Z.R.F. Kirkup interjected.
The SPEAKER : Calm down,
member for Dawesville. Wrap this up, minister.
Mr P.C. TINLEY : We have a belief
about this. On this Saturday, there is a single stark choice before the people
of Western Australia and Australia to choose between a government that cares
for all and one that does not care for many.
thank the member for the question and her enduring commitment to all Indigenous
Australians, not only in her home electorate, but also right across the state,
like so many on this side who are committed and wedded to the outcomes of first
nation Western Australians to share in the same prosperity that we in this
house have all shared. During the hurly-burly of the federal election campaign,
an announcement was made by Bill Shorten, the federal Leader of the Opposition,
around the area of remote funding. This came on the back of a significant
amount of lobbying on behalf of those communities that we support, not only in Western
Australia, but also South Australia and Queensland, that are particularly
affected by the Morrison government walking away from those communities. It
simply walked away, with a single termination payment of $121 million. We
really welcome the commitment of the federal Leader of the Opposition, Bill
Shorten, to first nation Australians in remote communities by matching a similar
amount of $121.5 million through the next financial year to ensure that we have
two things: firstly, an enduring commitment and statement to first nation Western
Australians that we believe in their right to exist and live the life they need
to live in culturally appropriate ways is enshrined and supported, and,
secondly, breathing room to recast the whole debate around remote housing and
move away from a housing-only model and
understand what we have all come to know. The evidence has already said to us
that a housing- first model around closing the gap and the totality of
the life journey for our first nation Australians is something that we need to
focus on. I and the whole cabinet are entirely in lockstep about creating
better outcomes across Indigenous lives, not just for the homes that they own
and live in. We support 165 remote communities across Western Australia,
including, beyond that, the conversion of town camps such as One Mile and
Kennedy Hill in Broome, which we can normalise as suburbs and through which we
can give genuine housing options across the spectrum to Aboriginal people. It
will also help us double down on the transitional housing program that had been
established for some time to allow Aboriginal people to have a job and at the
same time get housing support and have a future life.
This contrasts significantly with
what the previous Liberal–National government did under Mr Barnett,
when he had significant indifference to the plight of Aboriginal people. He
said some most egregious things to those people that were basically an insult.
Mr Z.R.F. Kirkup interjected.
The SPEAKER : Are you
finished, member for Dawesville? I call you to order.
Mr P.C. TINLEY : When he got
up —
Mr Z.R.F. Kirkup interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Dawesville, I call you to order for the first and second time.
Mr P.C. TINLEY : He got up and
told a crowd of people to have some sympathy and to walk in his shoes when it
comes to the sort of pain that he was suffering. He told the Aboriginal people
of Western Australia that they should suspend all their dispossession and the
intergenerational transfer of poverty and systemic violence because the Premier
of Western Australia was seeking some sympathy for the egregious effect that he
had on our finances that he no longer had the capacity to fix. He rolled over
and had his tummy tickled for a handful of silver coins over the remote
communities sustainment funding for the remote water and power that we are
meant to provide to these communities. It was a one-off payment to allow the
federal government to walk away. That is the problem. That is the difference
between this side and that side of the house. We believe they have a right to
exist. We believe they have a right to a future—the same as ours.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr Z.R.F. Kirkup interjected.
The SPEAKER : Calm down,
member for Dawesville. Wrap this up, minister.
Mr P.C. TINLEY : We have a belief
about this. On this Saturday, there is a single stark choice before the people
of Western Australia and Australia to choose between a government that cares
for all and one that does not care for many.
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