Jon Ford questions the Minister for Housing's decision to relocate a planned Indigenous short-stay hostel from Broome to Derby, citing broken commitments and lack of consultation. The Minister denies breaking commitments, blaming the Shire of Broome's indecision.

AnsweredQoN 266Legislative Council
Asked
17 May 2012
Portfolio
Housing

QuestionView source ↗

SHORT-STAY
INDIGENOUS HOSTEL, BROOME
266. Hon JON FORD to the minister representing the Minister
for Housing:
I refer to the minister's decision to break his
commitment to provide a short-stay Indigenous hostel in Broome and, instead,
establish a hostel at Derby.
(1) Why did
the minister deliver an ultimatum on negotiations to locate the hostel at the
One Mile community in February 2012, when in November 2011 the minister is
quoted as saying the One Mile site was the best option?
(2) What other
sites were considered aside from the One Mile site and the Dora Street site?
(3) Will the
minister reconsider his decision to deliver an ultimatum to the Shire of Broome
given that a spokesperson for the One Mile community is quoted as saying that
by December 2011 some residents had indicated a willingness to move?
(4) What
hostel facility will be provided to address the acknowledged needs of the
Broome community? 
Hon SIMON O'BRIEN

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. However, the government has not broken any
commitment, as the Shire of Broome could not make a decision on a suitable
location. The funding was offered to Derby, which identified a suitable site
immediately.
In response to the member's
question, the Department of Housing advises —
(1) No ultimatum to locate the Indigenous visitor's
centre at One Mile was given.
(2) Other
sites considered jointly with the Shire of Broome were: Morgans Camp; freehold
land south and immediately adjacent to the One Mile community; unallocated
crown land at the entry to Roebuck Bay estate; Morrell Park; unallocated crown
land located opposite the Blue Haze development; and the former old Holy Child
Orphanage grounds.
(3) See answer
to (1).
(4) Until the
shire can identify a suitable site, the issue remains unresolved.

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