❓ Mr. Wyatt questions Premier Barnett's timing on addressing remote Aboriginal community issues, suggesting it's driven by financial constraints and Commonwealth withdrawal. Barnett defends his actions, citing the closure of Oombulgurri and a cabinet subcommittee, while accusing Wyatt of causing alarm.
AnsweredQoN 339Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
REMOTE ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES — CLOSURE
339. Mr B.S. WYATT to the
Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Being the Premier who is not
going ignore this issue, why is it, after six years in government and only now
that the finances have turned against him and the commonwealth has walked away
from its long-term responsibility, that he has decided it is time, as Premier,
to start not ignoring this issue?
339. Mr B.S. WYATT to the
Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Being the Premier who is not
going ignore this issue, why is it, after six years in government and only now
that the finances have turned against him and the commonwealth has walked away
from its long-term responsibility, that he has decided it is time, as Premier,
to start not ignoring this issue?
AnswerView source ↗
I, as I think every member in this house is in reality, am
concerned about many children and many women in Aboriginal communities and the
lack of opportunity. I think we all share that. What changed the emphasis?
Mr D.J. Kelly :
Money.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
No, Mr Speaker. When the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs had the courage to
close Oombulgurri; that is what changed it. He made the right decision. Two years
ago I established a subcommittee of cabinet, involving the major portfolios
that deal with Aboriginal people, and that is coming to fruition. What brought
to a head the issues? Yes, the commonwealth decision to cease its funding of
services. What did the member for Victoria Park do? He immediately ran around
the Kimberley causing alarm—that is what he did immediately! He ran
around the Kimberley causing distress.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : This is going to take a long time, but there will be change.
At the end of it I expect there will be significantly fewer Aboriginal
communities, but there will be better Aboriginal communities with
opportunities. That will be the difference. It is not up to government to
simply say the easy, politically correct thing.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The member for Victoria Park has been —
Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park! Premier, through the Chair.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The Commissioner of Police has written to the member for Victoria Park offering
him a briefing on what is going on in Aboriginal communities. I hope the member
for Victoria Park takes him up on that; I hope he does.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Cannington, I call you to order for the first time. Through the
Chair; short answer, please, Premier.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
There have been reports—the Australian Crime Commission I think is the
correct body; those reports will never be made public. They will never identify
individuals and they will never identify communities, but I challenge anyone to
read that report and not realise it was time to move forward and that the
status quo is not acceptable.
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
just answered that.
Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park, I call you to order for the second time.
concerned about many children and many women in Aboriginal communities and the
lack of opportunity. I think we all share that. What changed the emphasis?
Mr D.J. Kelly :
Money.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
No, Mr Speaker. When the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs had the courage to
close Oombulgurri; that is what changed it. He made the right decision. Two years
ago I established a subcommittee of cabinet, involving the major portfolios
that deal with Aboriginal people, and that is coming to fruition. What brought
to a head the issues? Yes, the commonwealth decision to cease its funding of
services. What did the member for Victoria Park do? He immediately ran around
the Kimberley causing alarm—that is what he did immediately! He ran
around the Kimberley causing distress.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : This is going to take a long time, but there will be change.
At the end of it I expect there will be significantly fewer Aboriginal
communities, but there will be better Aboriginal communities with
opportunities. That will be the difference. It is not up to government to
simply say the easy, politically correct thing.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The member for Victoria Park has been —
Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park! Premier, through the Chair.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The Commissioner of Police has written to the member for Victoria Park offering
him a briefing on what is going on in Aboriginal communities. I hope the member
for Victoria Park takes him up on that; I hope he does.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Cannington, I call you to order for the first time. Through the
Chair; short answer, please, Premier.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
There have been reports—the Australian Crime Commission I think is the
correct body; those reports will never be made public. They will never identify
individuals and they will never identify communities, but I challenge anyone to
read that report and not realise it was time to move forward and that the
status quo is not acceptable.
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
just answered that.
Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park, I call you to order for the second time.
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