❓ The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs outlines the government's response to COVID-19 in remote Aboriginal communities, including travel restrictions, community pandemic planning, and warnings against large gatherings and unnecessary travel between communities.
AnsweredQoN 197Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS —
REMOTE COMMUNITIES
197. Mr D.T. PUNCH to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs:
I refer to the state government's
response to COVID-19 and its potential impact on Western Australia's
remote communities. Can the minister outline to the house what advice has been
given to residents in Western Australia's remote communities in working
to stop the spread of this virus?
REMOTE COMMUNITIES
197. Mr D.T. PUNCH to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs:
I refer to the state government's
response to COVID-19 and its potential impact on Western Australia's
remote communities. Can the minister outline to the house what advice has been
given to residents in Western Australia's remote communities in working
to stop the spread of this virus?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Bunbury for
that question. As I have said in this place this week, remote Aboriginal
communities are potentially quite vulnerable to COVID-19 if there is an
outbreak of infection. Aboriginal people have higher rates of respiratory
illnesses and are a vulnerable group. I have made comments about large
gatherings at funerals. As a result, we
have, just today, evoked powers under the Emergency Management Act 2005 and
issued a direction that deals with two groups of people. A person who is
outside the boundaries of a remote Aboriginal community must not enter upon any
land within the boundaries of a remote Aboriginal community, and a person who
is within the boundaries of a remote Aboriginal community must not move outside
those boundaries except for specific circumstances, such as for medical care or
obtaining essential services. We also made it clear that this does not apply to
roads within those communities so that people can still get around individual
communities. Heads of government agencies, community corporations, native title
entities and land councils are being informed of this direction. Importantly,
we are now working with remote Aboriginal communities to develop their
community pandemic plans that are applicable
to each one. This is a very important thing to do because, as I have said,
Aboriginal communities are vulnerable. Yesterday, the Minister for
Health said in a debate during private members' business that remote
Aboriginal communities are quite safe if we can keep COVID-19 out of those
communities. We will continue to work very hard to ensure that our Aboriginal
citizens across Western Australia have the protection that we can give them. I do
not take this step lightly. I emphasise again to those Aboriginal people who
are considering moving vast distances between communities that this is not the
time to do that. Large funerals should not be conducted,
certainly over the coming six months. I will continue to emphasise that point
because, ultimately, all that would do is expose many people—Aboriginal
and non-Aboriginal people—to the potential spread of COVID-19.
that question. As I have said in this place this week, remote Aboriginal
communities are potentially quite vulnerable to COVID-19 if there is an
outbreak of infection. Aboriginal people have higher rates of respiratory
illnesses and are a vulnerable group. I have made comments about large
gatherings at funerals. As a result, we
have, just today, evoked powers under the Emergency Management Act 2005 and
issued a direction that deals with two groups of people. A person who is
outside the boundaries of a remote Aboriginal community must not enter upon any
land within the boundaries of a remote Aboriginal community, and a person who
is within the boundaries of a remote Aboriginal community must not move outside
those boundaries except for specific circumstances, such as for medical care or
obtaining essential services. We also made it clear that this does not apply to
roads within those communities so that people can still get around individual
communities. Heads of government agencies, community corporations, native title
entities and land councils are being informed of this direction. Importantly,
we are now working with remote Aboriginal communities to develop their
community pandemic plans that are applicable
to each one. This is a very important thing to do because, as I have said,
Aboriginal communities are vulnerable. Yesterday, the Minister for
Health said in a debate during private members' business that remote
Aboriginal communities are quite safe if we can keep COVID-19 out of those
communities. We will continue to work very hard to ensure that our Aboriginal
citizens across Western Australia have the protection that we can give them. I do
not take this step lightly. I emphasise again to those Aboriginal people who
are considering moving vast distances between communities that this is not the
time to do that. Large funerals should not be conducted,
certainly over the coming six months. I will continue to emphasise that point
because, ultimately, all that would do is expose many people—Aboriginal
and non-Aboriginal people—to the potential spread of COVID-19.
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