Hon Derrick Tomlinson questions the Minister for Indigenous Affairs regarding the dispersal of the Department's library, the location of public records, payment for materials, and the handling of personal information about Aboriginal families. The Minister confirms the library's dispersal, clarifies the location of records, denies payment for materials, and assures that personal information is retained by the Department.

AnsweredQoN 233Legislative Council
Asked
8 April 2004
Portfolio
Indigenous Affairs

QuestionView source ↗

(1) Will the minister confirm that the Department of Indigenous Affairs’ library, which it has accumulated over 20 years, has been dispersed among state, university and regional libraries? (2) If yes, will the minister assure the House that all public records of the Department of Indigenous Affairs previously held by the Department of Indigenous Affairs’ library are now located at the State Records Office of Western Australia? (3) Did the Department of Indigenous Affairs receive payment for materials from its library that are now stored at the University of Western Australia’s indigenous history unit, the Reid Library, Murdoch University’s indigenous unit and main library, Curtin University’s indigenous studies unit and main library, or Edith Cowan University’s Kurongkurl Katitjin School of Indigenous Studies and main library? (4) Has the comprehensive personal collection of personal information about Aboriginal families been retained by the Department of Indigenous Affairs, or has it too been dispersed to state, university or regional libraries? Hon TOM STEPHENS

AnswerView source ↗

The Minister for Indigenous Affairs has provided the following response - (1) Yes. (2) Only published material in the library has been dispersed. Material related to the old native welfare archive files and other public records remain with the Department of Indigenous Affairs. (3) No. (4) All personal information relating to Aboriginal families has been retained by DIA and is managed by the family history unit within the department.
(2) If yes, will the minister assure the House that all public records of the Department of Indigenous Affairs previously held by the Department of Indigenous Affairs’ library are now located at the State Records Office of Western Australia? (3) Did the Department of Indigenous Affairs receive payment for materials from its library that are now stored at the University of Western Australia’s indigenous history unit, the Reid Library, Murdoch University’s indigenous unit and main library, Curtin University’s indigenous studies unit and main library, or Edith Cowan University’s Kurongkurl Katitjin School of Indigenous Studies and main library? (4) Has the comprehensive personal collection of personal information about Aboriginal families been retained by the Department of Indigenous Affairs, or has it too been dispersed to state, university or regional libraries? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for Indigenous Affairs has provided the following response - (1) Yes. (2) Only published material in the library has been dispersed. Material related to the old native welfare archive files and other public records remain with the Department of Indigenous Affairs. (3) No. (4) All personal information relating to Aboriginal families has been retained by DIA and is managed by the family history unit within the department.
(3) Did the Department of Indigenous Affairs receive payment for materials from its library that are now stored at the University of Western Australia’s indigenous history unit, the Reid Library, Murdoch University’s indigenous unit and main library, Curtin University’s indigenous studies unit and main library, or Edith Cowan University’s Kurongkurl Katitjin School of Indigenous Studies and main library? (4) Has the comprehensive personal collection of personal information about Aboriginal families been retained by the Department of Indigenous Affairs, or has it too been dispersed to state, university or regional libraries? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for Indigenous Affairs has provided the following response - (1) Yes. (2) Only published material in the library has been dispersed. Material related to the old native welfare archive files and other public records remain with the Department of Indigenous Affairs. (3) No. (4) All personal information relating to Aboriginal families has been retained by DIA and is managed by the family history unit within the department.
(4) Has the comprehensive personal collection of personal information about Aboriginal families been retained by the Department of Indigenous Affairs, or has it too been dispersed to state, university or regional libraries? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for Indigenous Affairs has provided the following response - (1) Yes. (2) Only published material in the library has been dispersed. Material related to the old native welfare archive files and other public records remain with the Department of Indigenous Affairs. (3) No. (4) All personal information relating to Aboriginal families has been retained by DIA and is managed by the family history unit within the department.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for Indigenous Affairs has provided the following response - (1) Yes. (2) Only published material in the library has been dispersed. Material related to the old native welfare archive files and other public records remain with the Department of Indigenous Affairs. (3) No. (4) All personal information relating to Aboriginal families has been retained by DIA and is managed by the family history unit within the department.
The Minister for Indigenous Affairs has provided the following response - (1) Yes. (2) Only published material in the library has been dispersed. Material related to the old native welfare archive files and other public records remain with the Department of Indigenous Affairs. (3) No. (4) All personal information relating to Aboriginal families has been retained by DIA and is managed by the family history unit within the department.
(1) Yes. (2) Only published material in the library has been dispersed. Material related to the old native welfare archive files and other public records remain with the Department of Indigenous Affairs. (3) No. (4) All personal information relating to Aboriginal families has been retained by DIA and is managed by the family history unit within the department.
(2) Only published material in the library has been dispersed. Material related to the old native welfare archive files and other public records remain with the Department of Indigenous Affairs. (3) No. (4) All personal information relating to Aboriginal families has been retained by DIA and is managed by the family history unit within the department.
(3) No. (4) All personal information relating to Aboriginal families has been retained by DIA and is managed by the family history unit within the department.
(4) All personal information relating to Aboriginal families has been retained by DIA and is managed by the family history unit within the department.

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