❓ Mr. Kirkup asks the Premier when a whole-of-government response to the coroner's report on 13 youth suicides in the Kimberley will be available. The Premier outlines various budget initiatives aimed at improving the lives of Indigenous young people and states that an overarching response is being worked on.
AnsweredQoN 353Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
KIMBERLEY SUICIDES — CORONER'S REPORT
353. Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP to the Premier:
I refer to the coroner's inquest into 13 deaths of
children and young people in the Kimberley region, which was delivered more
than three months ago.
Ms S.E. Winton interjected.
Mr M.P. Murray : Get on with it.
Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP : The minister might not have heard
the member for Wanneroo.
The SPEAKER : Start again, member. Member for Wanneroo,
I will not warn you again.
Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP : I refer to the coroner's
inquest into 13 deaths of children and young people in the Kimberley region,
which was delivered more than three months ago. When can we expect a whole-of-government
response to the 42 recommendations from this important inquiry?
353. Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP to the Premier:
I refer to the coroner's inquest into 13 deaths of
children and young people in the Kimberley region, which was delivered more
than three months ago.
Ms S.E. Winton interjected.
Mr M.P. Murray : Get on with it.
Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP : The minister might not have heard
the member for Wanneroo.
The SPEAKER : Start again, member. Member for Wanneroo,
I will not warn you again.
Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP : I refer to the coroner's
inquest into 13 deaths of children and young people in the Kimberley region,
which was delivered more than three months ago. When can we expect a whole-of-government
response to the 42 recommendations from this important inquiry?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. Obviously, that is a tragic
issue. We all feel deeply about the issue of suicide, particularly when they
are young people and, unfortunately, a large number of Indigenous young people
have taken their own lives. We all, particularly the member for Kimberley, feel
very deeply about that. The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs has been in the
Kimberley with the member for Kimberley over recent days discussing the issue
with Indigenous communities. I understand there has been a long process of
consultation around this issue because we want to make sure that we work with
Aboriginal people on solutions as best we can.
The member for Dawesville
might note that in the recent budget there is a range of initiatives that aim
to improve the lives of Aboriginal young people, and I want to outline
some of them. We have committed $2 million to a police and community youth
centre in Kununurra, which has not had one before; $1.3 million for the West
Kimberley youth and resilience hub project; $500 000 for the Kimberley
Aboriginal Law and Cultural Centre for cultural healing and to build resilience
in Aboriginal young people; $900 000 to deliver the Kimberley juvenile justice
strategy; $6.5 million for statewide funding for the Aboriginal community
connectors program; $21.5 million to continue the delivery of the regional
youth justice services in the Kimberley and Pilbara; $1.1 million for the
Kimberley family violence service to continue to assist in responding to family
and domestic violence in the Kimberley; $1.9 million over two years to expand
the Earbus program in the Kimberley for children who suffer from glue ear; and
$22.4 million for the delivery of the Kimberley schools project. As the member
knows, we are rebuilding Broome Senior High School. There is also $18.7 million
in statewide funding for the Aboriginal rangers program. There are a number of
other programs, including the methamphetamine strategy and the north west drug
and alcohol support program, which is $20 million; and $914 000 to increase
training for Aboriginal staff in alcohol and other drug services. Obviously,
the government is making a whole range of very significant commitments to
improve the lives of Indigenous people. However, we are working on an
overarching response to the coroner's report.
issue. We all feel deeply about the issue of suicide, particularly when they
are young people and, unfortunately, a large number of Indigenous young people
have taken their own lives. We all, particularly the member for Kimberley, feel
very deeply about that. The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs has been in the
Kimberley with the member for Kimberley over recent days discussing the issue
with Indigenous communities. I understand there has been a long process of
consultation around this issue because we want to make sure that we work with
Aboriginal people on solutions as best we can.
The member for Dawesville
might note that in the recent budget there is a range of initiatives that aim
to improve the lives of Aboriginal young people, and I want to outline
some of them. We have committed $2 million to a police and community youth
centre in Kununurra, which has not had one before; $1.3 million for the West
Kimberley youth and resilience hub project; $500 000 for the Kimberley
Aboriginal Law and Cultural Centre for cultural healing and to build resilience
in Aboriginal young people; $900 000 to deliver the Kimberley juvenile justice
strategy; $6.5 million for statewide funding for the Aboriginal community
connectors program; $21.5 million to continue the delivery of the regional
youth justice services in the Kimberley and Pilbara; $1.1 million for the
Kimberley family violence service to continue to assist in responding to family
and domestic violence in the Kimberley; $1.9 million over two years to expand
the Earbus program in the Kimberley for children who suffer from glue ear; and
$22.4 million for the delivery of the Kimberley schools project. As the member
knows, we are rebuilding Broome Senior High School. There is also $18.7 million
in statewide funding for the Aboriginal rangers program. There are a number of
other programs, including the methamphetamine strategy and the north west drug
and alcohol support program, which is $20 million; and $914 000 to increase
training for Aboriginal staff in alcohol and other drug services. Obviously,
the government is making a whole range of very significant commitments to
improve the lives of Indigenous people. However, we are working on an
overarching response to the coroner's report.
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