❓ Dr. Thomas questions the Minister for Indigenous Affairs about sewage spills in Wangkatjungka community due to limited power supply. The Minister deflects responsibility, highlighting a multi-agency approach and suggesting the questioner consult the minister responsible for sewerage.
AnsweredQoN 92Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WANGKATJUNGKA COMMUNITY
The Aboriginal community of Wangkatjungka between Halls Creek and Fitzroy Crossing has an average power supply of 12 hours a day. Given that the community’s sewerage system is powered by electricity - (1) Is the minister aware that the community experiences almost daily sewage spills? (2) Does the minister believe that it is acceptable for the community to face the health risks associated with these spills? (3) What action will the minister take to rectify this problem? Ms S.M. McHALE
The Aboriginal community of Wangkatjungka between Halls Creek and Fitzroy Crossing has an average power supply of 12 hours a day. Given that the community’s sewerage system is powered by electricity - (1) Is the minister aware that the community experiences almost daily sewage spills? (2) Does the minister believe that it is acceptable for the community to face the health risks associated with these spills? (3) What action will the minister take to rectify this problem? Ms S.M. McHALE
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) The questions from the opposition again show a lack of understanding about what this government is actually trying to do to change the response to Aboriginal communities. One agency such as the Department of Indigenous Affairs cannot deal with the woes of Aboriginal communities. The way we are approaching it is to get the agencies that are funded to deal with the problems that exist, to be accountable and to take responsibility. I suggest that the member looks to the minister who is responsible for sewerage, but certainly - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I ask the minister to take a seat. I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the second time. Ms S.M. McHALE : Certainly, Mr Speaker, if there are people rolling around in sewage, as the member says there are, it is absolutely not acceptable.
(1) Is the minister aware that the community experiences almost daily sewage spills? (2) Does the minister believe that it is acceptable for the community to face the health risks associated with these spills? (3) What action will the minister take to rectify this problem? Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(3) The questions from the opposition again show a lack of understanding about what this government is actually trying to do to change the response to Aboriginal communities. One agency such as the Department of Indigenous Affairs cannot deal with the woes of Aboriginal communities. The way we are approaching it is to get the agencies that are funded to deal with the problems that exist, to be accountable and to take responsibility. I suggest that the member looks to the minister who is responsible for sewerage, but certainly - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I ask the minister to take a seat. I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the second time. Ms S.M. McHALE : Certainly, Mr Speaker, if there are people rolling around in sewage, as the member says there are, it is absolutely not acceptable.
(2) Does the minister believe that it is acceptable for the community to face the health risks associated with these spills? (3) What action will the minister take to rectify this problem? Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(3) The questions from the opposition again show a lack of understanding about what this government is actually trying to do to change the response to Aboriginal communities. One agency such as the Department of Indigenous Affairs cannot deal with the woes of Aboriginal communities. The way we are approaching it is to get the agencies that are funded to deal with the problems that exist, to be accountable and to take responsibility. I suggest that the member looks to the minister who is responsible for sewerage, but certainly - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I ask the minister to take a seat. I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the second time. Ms S.M. McHALE : Certainly, Mr Speaker, if there are people rolling around in sewage, as the member says there are, it is absolutely not acceptable.
(3) What action will the minister take to rectify this problem? Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(3) The questions from the opposition again show a lack of understanding about what this government is actually trying to do to change the response to Aboriginal communities. One agency such as the Department of Indigenous Affairs cannot deal with the woes of Aboriginal communities. The way we are approaching it is to get the agencies that are funded to deal with the problems that exist, to be accountable and to take responsibility. I suggest that the member looks to the minister who is responsible for sewerage, but certainly - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I ask the minister to take a seat. I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the second time. Ms S.M. McHALE : Certainly, Mr Speaker, if there are people rolling around in sewage, as the member says there are, it is absolutely not acceptable.
Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(3) The questions from the opposition again show a lack of understanding about what this government is actually trying to do to change the response to Aboriginal communities. One agency such as the Department of Indigenous Affairs cannot deal with the woes of Aboriginal communities. The way we are approaching it is to get the agencies that are funded to deal with the problems that exist, to be accountable and to take responsibility. I suggest that the member looks to the minister who is responsible for sewerage, but certainly - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I ask the minister to take a seat. I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the second time. Ms S.M. McHALE : Certainly, Mr Speaker, if there are people rolling around in sewage, as the member says there are, it is absolutely not acceptable.
(1)-(3) The questions from the opposition again show a lack of understanding about what this government is actually trying to do to change the response to Aboriginal communities. One agency such as the Department of Indigenous Affairs cannot deal with the woes of Aboriginal communities. The way we are approaching it is to get the agencies that are funded to deal with the problems that exist, to be accountable and to take responsibility. I suggest that the member looks to the minister who is responsible for sewerage, but certainly - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I ask the minister to take a seat. I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the second time. Ms S.M. McHALE : Certainly, Mr Speaker, if there are people rolling around in sewage, as the member says there are, it is absolutely not acceptable.
Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I ask the minister to take a seat. I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the second time. Ms S.M. McHALE : Certainly, Mr Speaker, if there are people rolling around in sewage, as the member says there are, it is absolutely not acceptable.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! I ask the minister to take a seat. I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the second time. Ms S.M. McHALE : Certainly, Mr Speaker, if there are people rolling around in sewage, as the member says there are, it is absolutely not acceptable.
Ms S.M. McHALE : Certainly, Mr Speaker, if there are people rolling around in sewage, as the member says there are, it is absolutely not acceptable.
(1) Is the minister aware that the community experiences almost daily sewage spills? (2) Does the minister believe that it is acceptable for the community to face the health risks associated with these spills? (3) What action will the minister take to rectify this problem? Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(3) The questions from the opposition again show a lack of understanding about what this government is actually trying to do to change the response to Aboriginal communities. One agency such as the Department of Indigenous Affairs cannot deal with the woes of Aboriginal communities. The way we are approaching it is to get the agencies that are funded to deal with the problems that exist, to be accountable and to take responsibility. I suggest that the member looks to the minister who is responsible for sewerage, but certainly - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I ask the minister to take a seat. I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the second time. Ms S.M. McHALE : Certainly, Mr Speaker, if there are people rolling around in sewage, as the member says there are, it is absolutely not acceptable.
(2) Does the minister believe that it is acceptable for the community to face the health risks associated with these spills? (3) What action will the minister take to rectify this problem? Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(3) The questions from the opposition again show a lack of understanding about what this government is actually trying to do to change the response to Aboriginal communities. One agency such as the Department of Indigenous Affairs cannot deal with the woes of Aboriginal communities. The way we are approaching it is to get the agencies that are funded to deal with the problems that exist, to be accountable and to take responsibility. I suggest that the member looks to the minister who is responsible for sewerage, but certainly - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I ask the minister to take a seat. I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the second time. Ms S.M. McHALE : Certainly, Mr Speaker, if there are people rolling around in sewage, as the member says there are, it is absolutely not acceptable.
(3) What action will the minister take to rectify this problem? Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(3) The questions from the opposition again show a lack of understanding about what this government is actually trying to do to change the response to Aboriginal communities. One agency such as the Department of Indigenous Affairs cannot deal with the woes of Aboriginal communities. The way we are approaching it is to get the agencies that are funded to deal with the problems that exist, to be accountable and to take responsibility. I suggest that the member looks to the minister who is responsible for sewerage, but certainly - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I ask the minister to take a seat. I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the second time. Ms S.M. McHALE : Certainly, Mr Speaker, if there are people rolling around in sewage, as the member says there are, it is absolutely not acceptable.
Ms S.M. McHALE replied: (1)-(3) The questions from the opposition again show a lack of understanding about what this government is actually trying to do to change the response to Aboriginal communities. One agency such as the Department of Indigenous Affairs cannot deal with the woes of Aboriginal communities. The way we are approaching it is to get the agencies that are funded to deal with the problems that exist, to be accountable and to take responsibility. I suggest that the member looks to the minister who is responsible for sewerage, but certainly - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I ask the minister to take a seat. I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the second time. Ms S.M. McHALE : Certainly, Mr Speaker, if there are people rolling around in sewage, as the member says there are, it is absolutely not acceptable.
(1)-(3) The questions from the opposition again show a lack of understanding about what this government is actually trying to do to change the response to Aboriginal communities. One agency such as the Department of Indigenous Affairs cannot deal with the woes of Aboriginal communities. The way we are approaching it is to get the agencies that are funded to deal with the problems that exist, to be accountable and to take responsibility. I suggest that the member looks to the minister who is responsible for sewerage, but certainly - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I ask the minister to take a seat. I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the second time. Ms S.M. McHALE : Certainly, Mr Speaker, if there are people rolling around in sewage, as the member says there are, it is absolutely not acceptable.
Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I ask the minister to take a seat. I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the second time. Ms S.M. McHALE : Certainly, Mr Speaker, if there are people rolling around in sewage, as the member says there are, it is absolutely not acceptable.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! I ask the minister to take a seat. I call the member for Cottesloe to order for the second time. Ms S.M. McHALE : Certainly, Mr Speaker, if there are people rolling around in sewage, as the member says there are, it is absolutely not acceptable.
Ms S.M. McHALE : Certainly, Mr Speaker, if there are people rolling around in sewage, as the member says there are, it is absolutely not acceptable.
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