❓ Question addresses the closure of Oombulgurri community in 2011 and its impact on women and children, specifically regarding eviction, support services, and relocation. The response disputes the claim of eviction, stating residents left voluntarily and were offered support.
AnsweredQoN 1286Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
OOMBULGURRI
— CLOSURE
1286. Hon SALLY TALBOT to the Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to
the government's closure of the Oombulgurri community and eviction of
the residents in 2011.
(1) How many
women and children were evicted from their homes?
(2) What steps did the Minister for
Child Protection's department take to minimise the trauma and hardship for the women and
children who were evicted from their homes?
(3) How many women —
(a) received counselling during and
after the evictions; and
(b) received other services during
and after the evictions?
(4) How many
children —
(a) received counselling during and after the evictions; and
(b) received other services during
and after the evictions?
(5) How many women and children —
(a) have been relocated to Wyndham;
(b) have been relocated to other places in the Kimberley; and
(c) have yet to be relocated?
— CLOSURE
1286. Hon SALLY TALBOT to the Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to
the government's closure of the Oombulgurri community and eviction of
the residents in 2011.
(1) How many
women and children were evicted from their homes?
(2) What steps did the Minister for
Child Protection's department take to minimise the trauma and hardship for the women and
children who were evicted from their homes?
(3) How many women —
(a) received counselling during and
after the evictions; and
(b) received other services during
and after the evictions?
(4) How many
children —
(a) received counselling during and after the evictions; and
(b) received other services during
and after the evictions?
(5) How many women and children —
(a) have been relocated to Wyndham;
(b) have been relocated to other places in the Kimberley; and
(c) have yet to be relocated?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Aboriginal
Affairs advises —
(1) No residents were evicted from
their homes. People left on their own accord; some self-relocated and others
were offered accommodation in alternative locations, which they accepted.
(2) The department worked in
collaboration with the Department of Housing, Department of Aboriginal Affairs
and other key stakeholders to provide support. This included the remote
child protection worker regularly visiting and supporting the families who were
housed at the temporary accommodation in Wyndham.
(3)–(4) A remote community child protection
worker from the Department of Child Protection and Family Support was stationed
in Oombulgurri during the closure of the community to provide support to
residents. After all residents had vacated, this position was moved to Wyndham
to continue to provide support to families housed at the temporary
accommodation in Wyndham. The specific number of those who made use of this
service is unavailable.
(5) The Minister for Aboriginal
Affairs has advised —
(a) Nineteen women and 16 children.
(b) Two women and three children.
(c) Nil.
honourable member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Aboriginal
Affairs advises —
(1) No residents were evicted from
their homes. People left on their own accord; some self-relocated and others
were offered accommodation in alternative locations, which they accepted.
(2) The department worked in
collaboration with the Department of Housing, Department of Aboriginal Affairs
and other key stakeholders to provide support. This included the remote
child protection worker regularly visiting and supporting the families who were
housed at the temporary accommodation in Wyndham.
(3)–(4) A remote community child protection
worker from the Department of Child Protection and Family Support was stationed
in Oombulgurri during the closure of the community to provide support to
residents. After all residents had vacated, this position was moved to Wyndham
to continue to provide support to families housed at the temporary
accommodation in Wyndham. The specific number of those who made use of this
service is unavailable.
(5) The Minister for Aboriginal
Affairs has advised —
(a) Nineteen women and 16 children.
(b) Two women and three children.
(c) Nil.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.