❓ The Minister for Regional Development provides an update on the Regional Services Reform Unit, detailing its progress in engaging with remote Aboriginal communities, allocating resources for housing, education, and employment, and planning infrastructure upgrades. The response highlights the government's commitment to improving opportunities for children in these communities.
AnsweredQoN 909Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
REGIONAL
SERVICES REFORM UNIT
909. Mr V.A. CATANIA to the
Minister for Regional Development:
Can the minister please provide an update on the achievements
of the Regional Services Reform Unit?
SERVICES REFORM UNIT
909. Mr V.A. CATANIA to the
Minister for Regional Development:
Can the minister please provide an update on the achievements
of the Regional Services Reform Unit?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for North West Central for his question
about a very important initiative this government has embarked on in this term.
When the Premier set up a subcommittee of cabinet to look into a number of
Aboriginal affairs issues in the state, one of the responsibilities was to look
at a Regional Services Reform Unit, which I and the Minister for Child
Protection co-lead. It was set up in about October last year.
In July this year we launched the regional services road map
that lays out a plan and vision to engage with the 274 remote communities in
the state so that they are able to have a shared vision for their future and to
put on the table some opportunities for children born into those communities.
At the launch, we were prepared to put resources alongside it. In fact, over
$250 million was allocated for housing, for education initiatives, and to look
at town-based reserves and employment initiatives. The unit has undertaken to
visit all 274 remote communities by early next year. Here we are, some three
months into that undertaking, and it has already visited about 103 communities.
All those communities are different. Some have over 500 people; some have fewer
than 10 people. They all have different strengths, weaknesses and
opportunities. It is important that the unit engages with those communities to
find out the intersection between the road map, which is a document that lays
out a future plan for opportunities, and the vision they have for their
communities and kids.
I recently had the chance to visit three communities—two
in the Fitzroy Valley, just out of Fitzroy Crossing, and one in the East
Kimberley—to hold conversations as a part of that consultative process.
It was really encouraging to see the preparedness, particularly of the
Aboriginal leaders in those communities, to engage in the process. There is a
long way to go. There is recognition that this is just the beginning. We are
not going to have one conversation and expect all the opportunities to fall out
from that; that is why we have committed to the unit to engage in that and
start the discussions that needs to happen to paint a future for those
communities' kids. I am very pleased that we have strong and ongoing
support from Aboriginal leaders in that process.
In the next few months we expect to see more from the
regional services reform unit. There will be finalisation of some changes in
the public sector employment contracting and procurement practices to provide
more job opportunities, respecting the fact that one of the largest employers
in those communities is the government. We need to do a better job and set
better stretch targets for government agencies in their employment of
Aboriginal people in those communities to be a part of the services that they
actually supply to those communities.
There will also be some announcements in and around housing
and education. We have talked about some of the headline numbers around that,
but more detail will come through on that. Also, before the end of the year, we
will identify the first 10 communities that will have upgrades to water, power
and sewerage services. That again signals a clear commitment from this
government to some of the most disadvantaged people in this state. It will give
the kids who have been born into those communities a chance to have some vision
and to participate in our economy. I, along with the Minister for Child Protection,
am extremely proud about what we have been able to achieve so far, but I
recognise that there is one hell of a long way to go. It is important that we
set ourselves along that path. I am just making the point that this unit, while
we are going through an election cycle, is visually on the ground making sure
that we can lay out a path for the future of those communities.
about a very important initiative this government has embarked on in this term.
When the Premier set up a subcommittee of cabinet to look into a number of
Aboriginal affairs issues in the state, one of the responsibilities was to look
at a Regional Services Reform Unit, which I and the Minister for Child
Protection co-lead. It was set up in about October last year.
In July this year we launched the regional services road map
that lays out a plan and vision to engage with the 274 remote communities in
the state so that they are able to have a shared vision for their future and to
put on the table some opportunities for children born into those communities.
At the launch, we were prepared to put resources alongside it. In fact, over
$250 million was allocated for housing, for education initiatives, and to look
at town-based reserves and employment initiatives. The unit has undertaken to
visit all 274 remote communities by early next year. Here we are, some three
months into that undertaking, and it has already visited about 103 communities.
All those communities are different. Some have over 500 people; some have fewer
than 10 people. They all have different strengths, weaknesses and
opportunities. It is important that the unit engages with those communities to
find out the intersection between the road map, which is a document that lays
out a future plan for opportunities, and the vision they have for their
communities and kids.
I recently had the chance to visit three communities—two
in the Fitzroy Valley, just out of Fitzroy Crossing, and one in the East
Kimberley—to hold conversations as a part of that consultative process.
It was really encouraging to see the preparedness, particularly of the
Aboriginal leaders in those communities, to engage in the process. There is a
long way to go. There is recognition that this is just the beginning. We are
not going to have one conversation and expect all the opportunities to fall out
from that; that is why we have committed to the unit to engage in that and
start the discussions that needs to happen to paint a future for those
communities' kids. I am very pleased that we have strong and ongoing
support from Aboriginal leaders in that process.
In the next few months we expect to see more from the
regional services reform unit. There will be finalisation of some changes in
the public sector employment contracting and procurement practices to provide
more job opportunities, respecting the fact that one of the largest employers
in those communities is the government. We need to do a better job and set
better stretch targets for government agencies in their employment of
Aboriginal people in those communities to be a part of the services that they
actually supply to those communities.
There will also be some announcements in and around housing
and education. We have talked about some of the headline numbers around that,
but more detail will come through on that. Also, before the end of the year, we
will identify the first 10 communities that will have upgrades to water, power
and sewerage services. That again signals a clear commitment from this
government to some of the most disadvantaged people in this state. It will give
the kids who have been born into those communities a chance to have some vision
and to participate in our economy. I, along with the Minister for Child Protection,
am extremely proud about what we have been able to achieve so far, but I
recognise that there is one hell of a long way to go. It is important that we
set ourselves along that path. I am just making the point that this unit, while
we are going through an election cycle, is visually on the ground making sure
that we can lay out a path for the future of those communities.
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