❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses the threatened closure of remote Aboriginal communities, seeking clarification on the government's definition of 'sustainable' and 'unviable' communities, resettlement plans, and the reasons behind the potential closures. The government denies forced closures and emphasises improving living standards.
AnsweredQoN 340Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
REMOTE ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES — CLOSURE
340. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the Leader of the
House representing the Premier:
With regard to the threatened closure of remote Aboriginal communities,
I refer to media reports in the Australian edition of The Guardian .
(1) What is the Premier's definition
of a ''sustainable'' community; what is meant by an ''unviable''
community; how can an unviable community become a sustainable community in
order to avoid closure; will this be communicated to all communities under
threat of closure; and, if not, why not?
(2) Given the high rates of juvenile
homelessness already recorded and reported in Kimberley regional centres, where
will the government resettle people who are made homeless by the closure of
remote communities?
(3) Was the closure of remote Aboriginal
communities triggered by financial considerations caused by the withdrawal of
federal funding as first stated by the government, or was it for some other
reason?
340. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the Leader of the
House representing the Premier:
With regard to the threatened closure of remote Aboriginal communities,
I refer to media reports in the Australian edition of The Guardian .
(1) What is the Premier's definition
of a ''sustainable'' community; what is meant by an ''unviable''
community; how can an unviable community become a sustainable community in
order to avoid closure; will this be communicated to all communities under
threat of closure; and, if not, why not?
(2) Given the high rates of juvenile
homelessness already recorded and reported in Kimberley regional centres, where
will the government resettle people who are made homeless by the closure of
remote communities?
(3) Was the closure of remote Aboriginal
communities triggered by financial considerations caused by the withdrawal of
federal funding as first stated by the government, or was it for some other
reason?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1)–(3) There will be no forced
closure of remote communities. The government's focus is on creating a sustainable
basis for Aboriginal people to access education, employment, quality health
services, housing and improved community safety. Over the years, billions of
dollars have been spent on remote communities by successive governments,
without clear priorities and with little impact. While the withdrawal of
commonwealth funding brought the issue to a head, this reform is not about
savings; it is about reducing the disparity between the living standards of
Aboriginal people in remote locations and the rest of the community.
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1)–(3) There will be no forced
closure of remote communities. The government's focus is on creating a sustainable
basis for Aboriginal people to access education, employment, quality health
services, housing and improved community safety. Over the years, billions of
dollars have been spent on remote communities by successive governments,
without clear priorities and with little impact. While the withdrawal of
commonwealth funding brought the issue to a head, this reform is not about
savings; it is about reducing the disparity between the living standards of
Aboriginal people in remote locations and the rest of the community.
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