❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses the alleged closure of the Oombulgurri community, its viability, and the Minister's visits. The Minister denies the government's decision to close the community, citing a coroner's report and community members' decisions to relocate.
AnsweredQoN 533Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
OOMBULGURRI COMMUNITY — CLOSURE
I refer to an ABC radio report, broadcast on 8 August 2011, in which it was claimed that the government’s closure of the Oombulgurri community was due to it being unviable. (1) When did the government decide that this community was unviable and should be closed? (2) Why is the community unviable? (3) Has the minister visited Oombulgurri; and, if so, when? Hon PETER COLLIER
I refer to an ABC radio report, broadcast on 8 August 2011, in which it was claimed that the government’s closure of the Oombulgurri community was due to it being unviable. (1) When did the government decide that this community was unviable and should be closed? (2) Why is the community unviable? (3) Has the minister visited Oombulgurri; and, if so, when? Hon PETER COLLIER
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) The government has made no such decision. In April 2008, the State Coroner found the community to be in a state of crisis, with evidence of excessive alcohol consumption, high rates of domestic violence, child neglect and sexual abuse. The coroner’s report also questioned the sustainability of Oombulgurri, noting in particular the enormous financial costs of supporting the community at its current location. The Department of Indigenous Affairs has spent the past two years undertaking the work recommended by the coroner. Subsequent to investigations and the proposed normalisation of housing tenancy arrangements, the majority of the community made the decision to leave for alternative accommodation in other towns and communities. As such, no-one was living in the Oombulgurri community between 1 and 5 August this year. That said, the movements of some community members are fluid. (3) I have not yet visited Oombulgurri, but plan to do so in the near future.
(1) When did the government decide that this community was unviable and should be closed? (2) Why is the community unviable? (3) Has the minister visited Oombulgurri; and, if so, when? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: (1)–(2) The government has made no such decision. In April 2008, the State Coroner found the community to be in a state of crisis, with evidence of excessive alcohol consumption, high rates of domestic violence, child neglect and sexual abuse. The coroner’s report also questioned the sustainability of Oombulgurri, noting in particular the enormous financial costs of supporting the community at its current location. The Department of Indigenous Affairs has spent the past two years undertaking the work recommended by the coroner. Subsequent to investigations and the proposed normalisation of housing tenancy arrangements, the majority of the community made the decision to leave for alternative accommodation in other towns and communities. As such, no-one was living in the Oombulgurri community between 1 and 5 August this year. That said, the movements of some community members are fluid. (3) I have not yet visited Oombulgurri, but plan to do so in the near future.
(2) Why is the community unviable? (3) Has the minister visited Oombulgurri; and, if so, when? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: (1)–(2) The government has made no such decision. In April 2008, the State Coroner found the community to be in a state of crisis, with evidence of excessive alcohol consumption, high rates of domestic violence, child neglect and sexual abuse. The coroner’s report also questioned the sustainability of Oombulgurri, noting in particular the enormous financial costs of supporting the community at its current location. The Department of Indigenous Affairs has spent the past two years undertaking the work recommended by the coroner. Subsequent to investigations and the proposed normalisation of housing tenancy arrangements, the majority of the community made the decision to leave for alternative accommodation in other towns and communities. As such, no-one was living in the Oombulgurri community between 1 and 5 August this year. That said, the movements of some community members are fluid. (3) I have not yet visited Oombulgurri, but plan to do so in the near future.
(3) Has the minister visited Oombulgurri; and, if so, when? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: (1)–(2) The government has made no such decision. In April 2008, the State Coroner found the community to be in a state of crisis, with evidence of excessive alcohol consumption, high rates of domestic violence, child neglect and sexual abuse. The coroner’s report also questioned the sustainability of Oombulgurri, noting in particular the enormous financial costs of supporting the community at its current location. The Department of Indigenous Affairs has spent the past two years undertaking the work recommended by the coroner. Subsequent to investigations and the proposed normalisation of housing tenancy arrangements, the majority of the community made the decision to leave for alternative accommodation in other towns and communities. As such, no-one was living in the Oombulgurri community between 1 and 5 August this year. That said, the movements of some community members are fluid. (3) I have not yet visited Oombulgurri, but plan to do so in the near future.
Hon PETER COLLIER replied: (1)–(2) The government has made no such decision. In April 2008, the State Coroner found the community to be in a state of crisis, with evidence of excessive alcohol consumption, high rates of domestic violence, child neglect and sexual abuse. The coroner’s report also questioned the sustainability of Oombulgurri, noting in particular the enormous financial costs of supporting the community at its current location. The Department of Indigenous Affairs has spent the past two years undertaking the work recommended by the coroner. Subsequent to investigations and the proposed normalisation of housing tenancy arrangements, the majority of the community made the decision to leave for alternative accommodation in other towns and communities. As such, no-one was living in the Oombulgurri community between 1 and 5 August this year. That said, the movements of some community members are fluid. (3) I have not yet visited Oombulgurri, but plan to do so in the near future.
(1)–(2) The government has made no such decision. In April 2008, the State Coroner found the community to be in a state of crisis, with evidence of excessive alcohol consumption, high rates of domestic violence, child neglect and sexual abuse. The coroner’s report also questioned the sustainability of Oombulgurri, noting in particular the enormous financial costs of supporting the community at its current location. The Department of Indigenous Affairs has spent the past two years undertaking the work recommended by the coroner. Subsequent to investigations and the proposed normalisation of housing tenancy arrangements, the majority of the community made the decision to leave for alternative accommodation in other towns and communities. As such, no-one was living in the Oombulgurri community between 1 and 5 August this year. That said, the movements of some community members are fluid. (3) I have not yet visited Oombulgurri, but plan to do so in the near future.
(3) I have not yet visited Oombulgurri, but plan to do so in the near future.
(1) When did the government decide that this community was unviable and should be closed? (2) Why is the community unviable? (3) Has the minister visited Oombulgurri; and, if so, when? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: (1)–(2) The government has made no such decision. In April 2008, the State Coroner found the community to be in a state of crisis, with evidence of excessive alcohol consumption, high rates of domestic violence, child neglect and sexual abuse. The coroner’s report also questioned the sustainability of Oombulgurri, noting in particular the enormous financial costs of supporting the community at its current location. The Department of Indigenous Affairs has spent the past two years undertaking the work recommended by the coroner. Subsequent to investigations and the proposed normalisation of housing tenancy arrangements, the majority of the community made the decision to leave for alternative accommodation in other towns and communities. As such, no-one was living in the Oombulgurri community between 1 and 5 August this year. That said, the movements of some community members are fluid. (3) I have not yet visited Oombulgurri, but plan to do so in the near future.
(2) Why is the community unviable? (3) Has the minister visited Oombulgurri; and, if so, when? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: (1)–(2) The government has made no such decision. In April 2008, the State Coroner found the community to be in a state of crisis, with evidence of excessive alcohol consumption, high rates of domestic violence, child neglect and sexual abuse. The coroner’s report also questioned the sustainability of Oombulgurri, noting in particular the enormous financial costs of supporting the community at its current location. The Department of Indigenous Affairs has spent the past two years undertaking the work recommended by the coroner. Subsequent to investigations and the proposed normalisation of housing tenancy arrangements, the majority of the community made the decision to leave for alternative accommodation in other towns and communities. As such, no-one was living in the Oombulgurri community between 1 and 5 August this year. That said, the movements of some community members are fluid. (3) I have not yet visited Oombulgurri, but plan to do so in the near future.
(3) Has the minister visited Oombulgurri; and, if so, when? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: (1)–(2) The government has made no such decision. In April 2008, the State Coroner found the community to be in a state of crisis, with evidence of excessive alcohol consumption, high rates of domestic violence, child neglect and sexual abuse. The coroner’s report also questioned the sustainability of Oombulgurri, noting in particular the enormous financial costs of supporting the community at its current location. The Department of Indigenous Affairs has spent the past two years undertaking the work recommended by the coroner. Subsequent to investigations and the proposed normalisation of housing tenancy arrangements, the majority of the community made the decision to leave for alternative accommodation in other towns and communities. As such, no-one was living in the Oombulgurri community between 1 and 5 August this year. That said, the movements of some community members are fluid. (3) I have not yet visited Oombulgurri, but plan to do so in the near future.
Hon PETER COLLIER replied: (1)–(2) The government has made no such decision. In April 2008, the State Coroner found the community to be in a state of crisis, with evidence of excessive alcohol consumption, high rates of domestic violence, child neglect and sexual abuse. The coroner’s report also questioned the sustainability of Oombulgurri, noting in particular the enormous financial costs of supporting the community at its current location. The Department of Indigenous Affairs has spent the past two years undertaking the work recommended by the coroner. Subsequent to investigations and the proposed normalisation of housing tenancy arrangements, the majority of the community made the decision to leave for alternative accommodation in other towns and communities. As such, no-one was living in the Oombulgurri community between 1 and 5 August this year. That said, the movements of some community members are fluid. (3) I have not yet visited Oombulgurri, but plan to do so in the near future.
(1)–(2) The government has made no such decision. In April 2008, the State Coroner found the community to be in a state of crisis, with evidence of excessive alcohol consumption, high rates of domestic violence, child neglect and sexual abuse. The coroner’s report also questioned the sustainability of Oombulgurri, noting in particular the enormous financial costs of supporting the community at its current location. The Department of Indigenous Affairs has spent the past two years undertaking the work recommended by the coroner. Subsequent to investigations and the proposed normalisation of housing tenancy arrangements, the majority of the community made the decision to leave for alternative accommodation in other towns and communities. As such, no-one was living in the Oombulgurri community between 1 and 5 August this year. That said, the movements of some community members are fluid. (3) I have not yet visited Oombulgurri, but plan to do so in the near future.
(3) I have not yet visited Oombulgurri, but plan to do so in the near future.
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