❓ The Minister updates the house on the progress of building nine multifunction police facilities in isolated Aboriginal communities, highlighting the opening of the Balgo facility and criticising the previous government's neglect of these communities.
AnsweredQoN 521Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Will the minister update the house on the progress of the state government’s commitment to open nine multifunction police facilities as part of the response to the Gordon inquiry? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS
AnswerView source ↗
I am delighted to say that the Gallop government is absolutely committed to improving services to isolated Aboriginal communities. Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I will get to that, because the opposition has told a lot of fibs about that one. As part of the government’s response to the Gordon inquiry, it has committed some $21 million towards the construction of nine multifunction police facilities to isolated Aboriginal communities to prevent domestic violence and child abuse. The facilities will bring together specialist officers from the Police Service and the Departments of Community Development and Justice to provide services and to tailor programs that meet the unique needs of these communities. Last week I had great pleasure of officially opening the Balgo facility in the member for Central Kimberley-Pilbara’s electorate, which is the first of these centres to be located in Western Australia. Two Western Australian police officers and a Department for Community Development officer are now permanently based at the office and are working to provide services to nearby communities. There was a tremendous feeling and celebration at the opening ceremony of that facility. The local community turned out with much fanfare and put on displays of indigenous dancing. The first multipurpose facility, which I jointly opened in April last year, is at Kintore on the Northern Territory side of the Western Australian-Northern Territory border. That Kintore co-located facility is the first of its kind anywhere in Australia with both Western Australian and Northern Territory police officers being granted powers in both jurisdictions. I am pleased to inform the house that the $1.5 million facility at Warburton should be opened in November this year. Several members interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I am not going to respond to inane interjections from members opposite because for eight long years they neglected those communities and did not permanently locate police officers in any of them. They completely ignored the indigenous people of this state and their communities. They provided no policing; for example, Balgo had to be patrolled out of Halls Creek. How acceptable is that? It has taken the Gallop government to commit the $21 million to some of the most vulnerable people in our state. The Kalumburu facility will commence shortly, with the announcement of a contractor only last week. We expect that it will be completed towards the middle of next year. We are making those communities safer. They are a priority for our government. Last week the Commissioner of Police and I visited many Aboriginal communities north of our state, including the community at Warmun, formerly known as Turkey Creek. We also met with communities at Oombulgarri and Kalumburu to discuss a range of concerns. We are developing a program to boost community safety in these remote communities. Given that members opposite have chosen to interject on the issue of Kalumburu, I advise that two police officers are already working there. They are housed in quality, permanent housing provided by the Government Employees Housing Authority and initiated by this government. We have not appointed just a couple of constables at Kalumburu; the two officers are a senior sergeant and a sergeant. One has been there for seven months and the other has been there for three months. They are already working in the community in a temporary facility. By the middle of next year they will have a permanent facility to work from. Mr M.J. Cowper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Murray for the first time.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: I am delighted to say that the Gallop government is absolutely committed to improving services to isolated Aboriginal communities. Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I will get to that, because the opposition has told a lot of fibs about that one. As part of the government’s response to the Gordon inquiry, it has committed some $21 million towards the construction of nine multifunction police facilities to isolated Aboriginal communities to prevent domestic violence and child abuse. The facilities will bring together specialist officers from the Police Service and the Departments of Community Development and Justice to provide services and to tailor programs that meet the unique needs of these communities. Last week I had great pleasure of officially opening the Balgo facility in the member for Central Kimberley-Pilbara’s electorate, which is the first of these centres to be located in Western Australia. Two Western Australian police officers and a Department for Community Development officer are now permanently based at the office and are working to provide services to nearby communities. There was a tremendous feeling and celebration at the opening ceremony of that facility. The local community turned out with much fanfare and put on displays of indigenous dancing. The first multipurpose facility, which I jointly opened in April last year, is at Kintore on the Northern Territory side of the Western Australian-Northern Territory border. That Kintore co-located facility is the first of its kind anywhere in Australia with both Western Australian and Northern Territory police officers being granted powers in both jurisdictions. I am pleased to inform the house that the $1.5 million facility at Warburton should be opened in November this year. Several members interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I am not going to respond to inane interjections from members opposite because for eight long years they neglected those communities and did not permanently locate police officers in any of them. They completely ignored the indigenous people of this state and their communities. They provided no policing; for example, Balgo had to be patrolled out of Halls Creek. How acceptable is that? It has taken the Gallop government to commit the $21 million to some of the most vulnerable people in our state. The Kalumburu facility will commence shortly, with the announcement of a contractor only last week. We expect that it will be completed towards the middle of next year. We are making those communities safer. They are a priority for our government. Last week the Commissioner of Police and I visited many Aboriginal communities north of our state, including the community at Warmun, formerly known as Turkey Creek. We also met with communities at Oombulgarri and Kalumburu to discuss a range of concerns. We are developing a program to boost community safety in these remote communities. Given that members opposite have chosen to interject on the issue of Kalumburu, I advise that two police officers are already working there. They are housed in quality, permanent housing provided by the Government Employees Housing Authority and initiated by this government. We have not appointed just a couple of constables at Kalumburu; the two officers are a senior sergeant and a sergeant. One has been there for seven months and the other has been there for three months. They are already working in the community in a temporary facility. By the middle of next year they will have a permanent facility to work from. Mr M.J. Cowper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Murray for the first time.
I am delighted to say that the Gallop government is absolutely committed to improving services to isolated Aboriginal communities. Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I will get to that, because the opposition has told a lot of fibs about that one. As part of the government’s response to the Gordon inquiry, it has committed some $21 million towards the construction of nine multifunction police facilities to isolated Aboriginal communities to prevent domestic violence and child abuse. The facilities will bring together specialist officers from the Police Service and the Departments of Community Development and Justice to provide services and to tailor programs that meet the unique needs of these communities. Last week I had great pleasure of officially opening the Balgo facility in the member for Central Kimberley-Pilbara’s electorate, which is the first of these centres to be located in Western Australia. Two Western Australian police officers and a Department for Community Development officer are now permanently based at the office and are working to provide services to nearby communities. There was a tremendous feeling and celebration at the opening ceremony of that facility. The local community turned out with much fanfare and put on displays of indigenous dancing. The first multipurpose facility, which I jointly opened in April last year, is at Kintore on the Northern Territory side of the Western Australian-Northern Territory border. That Kintore co-located facility is the first of its kind anywhere in Australia with both Western Australian and Northern Territory police officers being granted powers in both jurisdictions. I am pleased to inform the house that the $1.5 million facility at Warburton should be opened in November this year. Several members interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I am not going to respond to inane interjections from members opposite because for eight long years they neglected those communities and did not permanently locate police officers in any of them. They completely ignored the indigenous people of this state and their communities. They provided no policing; for example, Balgo had to be patrolled out of Halls Creek. How acceptable is that? It has taken the Gallop government to commit the $21 million to some of the most vulnerable people in our state. The Kalumburu facility will commence shortly, with the announcement of a contractor only last week. We expect that it will be completed towards the middle of next year. We are making those communities safer. They are a priority for our government. Last week the Commissioner of Police and I visited many Aboriginal communities north of our state, including the community at Warmun, formerly known as Turkey Creek. We also met with communities at Oombulgarri and Kalumburu to discuss a range of concerns. We are developing a program to boost community safety in these remote communities. Given that members opposite have chosen to interject on the issue of Kalumburu, I advise that two police officers are already working there. They are housed in quality, permanent housing provided by the Government Employees Housing Authority and initiated by this government. We have not appointed just a couple of constables at Kalumburu; the two officers are a senior sergeant and a sergeant. One has been there for seven months and the other has been there for three months. They are already working in the community in a temporary facility. By the middle of next year they will have a permanent facility to work from. Mr M.J. Cowper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Murray for the first time.
Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I will get to that, because the opposition has told a lot of fibs about that one. As part of the government’s response to the Gordon inquiry, it has committed some $21 million towards the construction of nine multifunction police facilities to isolated Aboriginal communities to prevent domestic violence and child abuse. The facilities will bring together specialist officers from the Police Service and the Departments of Community Development and Justice to provide services and to tailor programs that meet the unique needs of these communities. Last week I had great pleasure of officially opening the Balgo facility in the member for Central Kimberley-Pilbara’s electorate, which is the first of these centres to be located in Western Australia. Two Western Australian police officers and a Department for Community Development officer are now permanently based at the office and are working to provide services to nearby communities. There was a tremendous feeling and celebration at the opening ceremony of that facility. The local community turned out with much fanfare and put on displays of indigenous dancing. The first multipurpose facility, which I jointly opened in April last year, is at Kintore on the Northern Territory side of the Western Australian-Northern Territory border. That Kintore co-located facility is the first of its kind anywhere in Australia with both Western Australian and Northern Territory police officers being granted powers in both jurisdictions. I am pleased to inform the house that the $1.5 million facility at Warburton should be opened in November this year. Several members interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I am not going to respond to inane interjections from members opposite because for eight long years they neglected those communities and did not permanently locate police officers in any of them. They completely ignored the indigenous people of this state and their communities. They provided no policing; for example, Balgo had to be patrolled out of Halls Creek. How acceptable is that? It has taken the Gallop government to commit the $21 million to some of the most vulnerable people in our state. The Kalumburu facility will commence shortly, with the announcement of a contractor only last week. We expect that it will be completed towards the middle of next year. We are making those communities safer. They are a priority for our government. Last week the Commissioner of Police and I visited many Aboriginal communities north of our state, including the community at Warmun, formerly known as Turkey Creek. We also met with communities at Oombulgarri and Kalumburu to discuss a range of concerns. We are developing a program to boost community safety in these remote communities. Given that members opposite have chosen to interject on the issue of Kalumburu, I advise that two police officers are already working there. They are housed in quality, permanent housing provided by the Government Employees Housing Authority and initiated by this government. We have not appointed just a couple of constables at Kalumburu; the two officers are a senior sergeant and a sergeant. One has been there for seven months and the other has been there for three months. They are already working in the community in a temporary facility. By the middle of next year they will have a permanent facility to work from. Mr M.J. Cowper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Murray for the first time.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I will get to that, because the opposition has told a lot of fibs about that one. As part of the government’s response to the Gordon inquiry, it has committed some $21 million towards the construction of nine multifunction police facilities to isolated Aboriginal communities to prevent domestic violence and child abuse. The facilities will bring together specialist officers from the Police Service and the Departments of Community Development and Justice to provide services and to tailor programs that meet the unique needs of these communities. Last week I had great pleasure of officially opening the Balgo facility in the member for Central Kimberley-Pilbara’s electorate, which is the first of these centres to be located in Western Australia. Two Western Australian police officers and a Department for Community Development officer are now permanently based at the office and are working to provide services to nearby communities. There was a tremendous feeling and celebration at the opening ceremony of that facility. The local community turned out with much fanfare and put on displays of indigenous dancing. The first multipurpose facility, which I jointly opened in April last year, is at Kintore on the Northern Territory side of the Western Australian-Northern Territory border. That Kintore co-located facility is the first of its kind anywhere in Australia with both Western Australian and Northern Territory police officers being granted powers in both jurisdictions. I am pleased to inform the house that the $1.5 million facility at Warburton should be opened in November this year. Several members interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I am not going to respond to inane interjections from members opposite because for eight long years they neglected those communities and did not permanently locate police officers in any of them. They completely ignored the indigenous people of this state and their communities. They provided no policing; for example, Balgo had to be patrolled out of Halls Creek. How acceptable is that? It has taken the Gallop government to commit the $21 million to some of the most vulnerable people in our state. The Kalumburu facility will commence shortly, with the announcement of a contractor only last week. We expect that it will be completed towards the middle of next year. We are making those communities safer. They are a priority for our government. Last week the Commissioner of Police and I visited many Aboriginal communities north of our state, including the community at Warmun, formerly known as Turkey Creek. We also met with communities at Oombulgarri and Kalumburu to discuss a range of concerns. We are developing a program to boost community safety in these remote communities. Given that members opposite have chosen to interject on the issue of Kalumburu, I advise that two police officers are already working there. They are housed in quality, permanent housing provided by the Government Employees Housing Authority and initiated by this government. We have not appointed just a couple of constables at Kalumburu; the two officers are a senior sergeant and a sergeant. One has been there for seven months and the other has been there for three months. They are already working in the community in a temporary facility. By the middle of next year they will have a permanent facility to work from. Mr M.J. Cowper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Murray for the first time.
As part of the government’s response to the Gordon inquiry, it has committed some $21 million towards the construction of nine multifunction police facilities to isolated Aboriginal communities to prevent domestic violence and child abuse. The facilities will bring together specialist officers from the Police Service and the Departments of Community Development and Justice to provide services and to tailor programs that meet the unique needs of these communities. Last week I had great pleasure of officially opening the Balgo facility in the member for Central Kimberley-Pilbara’s electorate, which is the first of these centres to be located in Western Australia. Two Western Australian police officers and a Department for Community Development officer are now permanently based at the office and are working to provide services to nearby communities. There was a tremendous feeling and celebration at the opening ceremony of that facility. The local community turned out with much fanfare and put on displays of indigenous dancing. The first multipurpose facility, which I jointly opened in April last year, is at Kintore on the Northern Territory side of the Western Australian-Northern Territory border. That Kintore co-located facility is the first of its kind anywhere in Australia with both Western Australian and Northern Territory police officers being granted powers in both jurisdictions. I am pleased to inform the house that the $1.5 million facility at Warburton should be opened in November this year. Several members interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I am not going to respond to inane interjections from members opposite because for eight long years they neglected those communities and did not permanently locate police officers in any of them. They completely ignored the indigenous people of this state and their communities. They provided no policing; for example, Balgo had to be patrolled out of Halls Creek. How acceptable is that? It has taken the Gallop government to commit the $21 million to some of the most vulnerable people in our state. The Kalumburu facility will commence shortly, with the announcement of a contractor only last week. We expect that it will be completed towards the middle of next year. We are making those communities safer. They are a priority for our government. Last week the Commissioner of Police and I visited many Aboriginal communities north of our state, including the community at Warmun, formerly known as Turkey Creek. We also met with communities at Oombulgarri and Kalumburu to discuss a range of concerns. We are developing a program to boost community safety in these remote communities. Given that members opposite have chosen to interject on the issue of Kalumburu, I advise that two police officers are already working there. They are housed in quality, permanent housing provided by the Government Employees Housing Authority and initiated by this government. We have not appointed just a couple of constables at Kalumburu; the two officers are a senior sergeant and a sergeant. One has been there for seven months and the other has been there for three months. They are already working in the community in a temporary facility. By the middle of next year they will have a permanent facility to work from. Mr M.J. Cowper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Murray for the first time.
Several members interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I am not going to respond to inane interjections from members opposite because for eight long years they neglected those communities and did not permanently locate police officers in any of them. They completely ignored the indigenous people of this state and their communities. They provided no policing; for example, Balgo had to be patrolled out of Halls Creek. How acceptable is that? It has taken the Gallop government to commit the $21 million to some of the most vulnerable people in our state. The Kalumburu facility will commence shortly, with the announcement of a contractor only last week. We expect that it will be completed towards the middle of next year. We are making those communities safer. They are a priority for our government. Last week the Commissioner of Police and I visited many Aboriginal communities north of our state, including the community at Warmun, formerly known as Turkey Creek. We also met with communities at Oombulgarri and Kalumburu to discuss a range of concerns. We are developing a program to boost community safety in these remote communities. Given that members opposite have chosen to interject on the issue of Kalumburu, I advise that two police officers are already working there. They are housed in quality, permanent housing provided by the Government Employees Housing Authority and initiated by this government. We have not appointed just a couple of constables at Kalumburu; the two officers are a senior sergeant and a sergeant. One has been there for seven months and the other has been there for three months. They are already working in the community in a temporary facility. By the middle of next year they will have a permanent facility to work from. Mr M.J. Cowper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Murray for the first time.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I am not going to respond to inane interjections from members opposite because for eight long years they neglected those communities and did not permanently locate police officers in any of them. They completely ignored the indigenous people of this state and their communities. They provided no policing; for example, Balgo had to be patrolled out of Halls Creek. How acceptable is that? It has taken the Gallop government to commit the $21 million to some of the most vulnerable people in our state. The Kalumburu facility will commence shortly, with the announcement of a contractor only last week. We expect that it will be completed towards the middle of next year. We are making those communities safer. They are a priority for our government. Last week the Commissioner of Police and I visited many Aboriginal communities north of our state, including the community at Warmun, formerly known as Turkey Creek. We also met with communities at Oombulgarri and Kalumburu to discuss a range of concerns. We are developing a program to boost community safety in these remote communities. Given that members opposite have chosen to interject on the issue of Kalumburu, I advise that two police officers are already working there. They are housed in quality, permanent housing provided by the Government Employees Housing Authority and initiated by this government. We have not appointed just a couple of constables at Kalumburu; the two officers are a senior sergeant and a sergeant. One has been there for seven months and the other has been there for three months. They are already working in the community in a temporary facility. By the middle of next year they will have a permanent facility to work from. Mr M.J. Cowper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Murray for the first time.
Given that members opposite have chosen to interject on the issue of Kalumburu, I advise that two police officers are already working there. They are housed in quality, permanent housing provided by the Government Employees Housing Authority and initiated by this government. We have not appointed just a couple of constables at Kalumburu; the two officers are a senior sergeant and a sergeant. One has been there for seven months and the other has been there for three months. They are already working in the community in a temporary facility. By the middle of next year they will have a permanent facility to work from. Mr M.J. Cowper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Murray for the first time.
Mr M.J. Cowper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Murray for the first time.
The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Murray for the first time.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: I am delighted to say that the Gallop government is absolutely committed to improving services to isolated Aboriginal communities. Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I will get to that, because the opposition has told a lot of fibs about that one. As part of the government’s response to the Gordon inquiry, it has committed some $21 million towards the construction of nine multifunction police facilities to isolated Aboriginal communities to prevent domestic violence and child abuse. The facilities will bring together specialist officers from the Police Service and the Departments of Community Development and Justice to provide services and to tailor programs that meet the unique needs of these communities. Last week I had great pleasure of officially opening the Balgo facility in the member for Central Kimberley-Pilbara’s electorate, which is the first of these centres to be located in Western Australia. Two Western Australian police officers and a Department for Community Development officer are now permanently based at the office and are working to provide services to nearby communities. There was a tremendous feeling and celebration at the opening ceremony of that facility. The local community turned out with much fanfare and put on displays of indigenous dancing. The first multipurpose facility, which I jointly opened in April last year, is at Kintore on the Northern Territory side of the Western Australian-Northern Territory border. That Kintore co-located facility is the first of its kind anywhere in Australia with both Western Australian and Northern Territory police officers being granted powers in both jurisdictions. I am pleased to inform the house that the $1.5 million facility at Warburton should be opened in November this year. Several members interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I am not going to respond to inane interjections from members opposite because for eight long years they neglected those communities and did not permanently locate police officers in any of them. They completely ignored the indigenous people of this state and their communities. They provided no policing; for example, Balgo had to be patrolled out of Halls Creek. How acceptable is that? It has taken the Gallop government to commit the $21 million to some of the most vulnerable people in our state. The Kalumburu facility will commence shortly, with the announcement of a contractor only last week. We expect that it will be completed towards the middle of next year. We are making those communities safer. They are a priority for our government. Last week the Commissioner of Police and I visited many Aboriginal communities north of our state, including the community at Warmun, formerly known as Turkey Creek. We also met with communities at Oombulgarri and Kalumburu to discuss a range of concerns. We are developing a program to boost community safety in these remote communities. Given that members opposite have chosen to interject on the issue of Kalumburu, I advise that two police officers are already working there. They are housed in quality, permanent housing provided by the Government Employees Housing Authority and initiated by this government. We have not appointed just a couple of constables at Kalumburu; the two officers are a senior sergeant and a sergeant. One has been there for seven months and the other has been there for three months. They are already working in the community in a temporary facility. By the middle of next year they will have a permanent facility to work from. Mr M.J. Cowper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Murray for the first time.
I am delighted to say that the Gallop government is absolutely committed to improving services to isolated Aboriginal communities. Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I will get to that, because the opposition has told a lot of fibs about that one. As part of the government’s response to the Gordon inquiry, it has committed some $21 million towards the construction of nine multifunction police facilities to isolated Aboriginal communities to prevent domestic violence and child abuse. The facilities will bring together specialist officers from the Police Service and the Departments of Community Development and Justice to provide services and to tailor programs that meet the unique needs of these communities. Last week I had great pleasure of officially opening the Balgo facility in the member for Central Kimberley-Pilbara’s electorate, which is the first of these centres to be located in Western Australia. Two Western Australian police officers and a Department for Community Development officer are now permanently based at the office and are working to provide services to nearby communities. There was a tremendous feeling and celebration at the opening ceremony of that facility. The local community turned out with much fanfare and put on displays of indigenous dancing. The first multipurpose facility, which I jointly opened in April last year, is at Kintore on the Northern Territory side of the Western Australian-Northern Territory border. That Kintore co-located facility is the first of its kind anywhere in Australia with both Western Australian and Northern Territory police officers being granted powers in both jurisdictions. I am pleased to inform the house that the $1.5 million facility at Warburton should be opened in November this year. Several members interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I am not going to respond to inane interjections from members opposite because for eight long years they neglected those communities and did not permanently locate police officers in any of them. They completely ignored the indigenous people of this state and their communities. They provided no policing; for example, Balgo had to be patrolled out of Halls Creek. How acceptable is that? It has taken the Gallop government to commit the $21 million to some of the most vulnerable people in our state. The Kalumburu facility will commence shortly, with the announcement of a contractor only last week. We expect that it will be completed towards the middle of next year. We are making those communities safer. They are a priority for our government. Last week the Commissioner of Police and I visited many Aboriginal communities north of our state, including the community at Warmun, formerly known as Turkey Creek. We also met with communities at Oombulgarri and Kalumburu to discuss a range of concerns. We are developing a program to boost community safety in these remote communities. Given that members opposite have chosen to interject on the issue of Kalumburu, I advise that two police officers are already working there. They are housed in quality, permanent housing provided by the Government Employees Housing Authority and initiated by this government. We have not appointed just a couple of constables at Kalumburu; the two officers are a senior sergeant and a sergeant. One has been there for seven months and the other has been there for three months. They are already working in the community in a temporary facility. By the middle of next year they will have a permanent facility to work from. Mr M.J. Cowper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Murray for the first time.
Mr J.H.D. Day interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I will get to that, because the opposition has told a lot of fibs about that one. As part of the government’s response to the Gordon inquiry, it has committed some $21 million towards the construction of nine multifunction police facilities to isolated Aboriginal communities to prevent domestic violence and child abuse. The facilities will bring together specialist officers from the Police Service and the Departments of Community Development and Justice to provide services and to tailor programs that meet the unique needs of these communities. Last week I had great pleasure of officially opening the Balgo facility in the member for Central Kimberley-Pilbara’s electorate, which is the first of these centres to be located in Western Australia. Two Western Australian police officers and a Department for Community Development officer are now permanently based at the office and are working to provide services to nearby communities. There was a tremendous feeling and celebration at the opening ceremony of that facility. The local community turned out with much fanfare and put on displays of indigenous dancing. The first multipurpose facility, which I jointly opened in April last year, is at Kintore on the Northern Territory side of the Western Australian-Northern Territory border. That Kintore co-located facility is the first of its kind anywhere in Australia with both Western Australian and Northern Territory police officers being granted powers in both jurisdictions. I am pleased to inform the house that the $1.5 million facility at Warburton should be opened in November this year. Several members interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I am not going to respond to inane interjections from members opposite because for eight long years they neglected those communities and did not permanently locate police officers in any of them. They completely ignored the indigenous people of this state and their communities. They provided no policing; for example, Balgo had to be patrolled out of Halls Creek. How acceptable is that? It has taken the Gallop government to commit the $21 million to some of the most vulnerable people in our state. The Kalumburu facility will commence shortly, with the announcement of a contractor only last week. We expect that it will be completed towards the middle of next year. We are making those communities safer. They are a priority for our government. Last week the Commissioner of Police and I visited many Aboriginal communities north of our state, including the community at Warmun, formerly known as Turkey Creek. We also met with communities at Oombulgarri and Kalumburu to discuss a range of concerns. We are developing a program to boost community safety in these remote communities. Given that members opposite have chosen to interject on the issue of Kalumburu, I advise that two police officers are already working there. They are housed in quality, permanent housing provided by the Government Employees Housing Authority and initiated by this government. We have not appointed just a couple of constables at Kalumburu; the two officers are a senior sergeant and a sergeant. One has been there for seven months and the other has been there for three months. They are already working in the community in a temporary facility. By the middle of next year they will have a permanent facility to work from. Mr M.J. Cowper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Murray for the first time.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I will get to that, because the opposition has told a lot of fibs about that one. As part of the government’s response to the Gordon inquiry, it has committed some $21 million towards the construction of nine multifunction police facilities to isolated Aboriginal communities to prevent domestic violence and child abuse. The facilities will bring together specialist officers from the Police Service and the Departments of Community Development and Justice to provide services and to tailor programs that meet the unique needs of these communities. Last week I had great pleasure of officially opening the Balgo facility in the member for Central Kimberley-Pilbara’s electorate, which is the first of these centres to be located in Western Australia. Two Western Australian police officers and a Department for Community Development officer are now permanently based at the office and are working to provide services to nearby communities. There was a tremendous feeling and celebration at the opening ceremony of that facility. The local community turned out with much fanfare and put on displays of indigenous dancing. The first multipurpose facility, which I jointly opened in April last year, is at Kintore on the Northern Territory side of the Western Australian-Northern Territory border. That Kintore co-located facility is the first of its kind anywhere in Australia with both Western Australian and Northern Territory police officers being granted powers in both jurisdictions. I am pleased to inform the house that the $1.5 million facility at Warburton should be opened in November this year. Several members interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I am not going to respond to inane interjections from members opposite because for eight long years they neglected those communities and did not permanently locate police officers in any of them. They completely ignored the indigenous people of this state and their communities. They provided no policing; for example, Balgo had to be patrolled out of Halls Creek. How acceptable is that? It has taken the Gallop government to commit the $21 million to some of the most vulnerable people in our state. The Kalumburu facility will commence shortly, with the announcement of a contractor only last week. We expect that it will be completed towards the middle of next year. We are making those communities safer. They are a priority for our government. Last week the Commissioner of Police and I visited many Aboriginal communities north of our state, including the community at Warmun, formerly known as Turkey Creek. We also met with communities at Oombulgarri and Kalumburu to discuss a range of concerns. We are developing a program to boost community safety in these remote communities. Given that members opposite have chosen to interject on the issue of Kalumburu, I advise that two police officers are already working there. They are housed in quality, permanent housing provided by the Government Employees Housing Authority and initiated by this government. We have not appointed just a couple of constables at Kalumburu; the two officers are a senior sergeant and a sergeant. One has been there for seven months and the other has been there for three months. They are already working in the community in a temporary facility. By the middle of next year they will have a permanent facility to work from. Mr M.J. Cowper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Murray for the first time.
As part of the government’s response to the Gordon inquiry, it has committed some $21 million towards the construction of nine multifunction police facilities to isolated Aboriginal communities to prevent domestic violence and child abuse. The facilities will bring together specialist officers from the Police Service and the Departments of Community Development and Justice to provide services and to tailor programs that meet the unique needs of these communities. Last week I had great pleasure of officially opening the Balgo facility in the member for Central Kimberley-Pilbara’s electorate, which is the first of these centres to be located in Western Australia. Two Western Australian police officers and a Department for Community Development officer are now permanently based at the office and are working to provide services to nearby communities. There was a tremendous feeling and celebration at the opening ceremony of that facility. The local community turned out with much fanfare and put on displays of indigenous dancing. The first multipurpose facility, which I jointly opened in April last year, is at Kintore on the Northern Territory side of the Western Australian-Northern Territory border. That Kintore co-located facility is the first of its kind anywhere in Australia with both Western Australian and Northern Territory police officers being granted powers in both jurisdictions. I am pleased to inform the house that the $1.5 million facility at Warburton should be opened in November this year. Several members interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I am not going to respond to inane interjections from members opposite because for eight long years they neglected those communities and did not permanently locate police officers in any of them. They completely ignored the indigenous people of this state and their communities. They provided no policing; for example, Balgo had to be patrolled out of Halls Creek. How acceptable is that? It has taken the Gallop government to commit the $21 million to some of the most vulnerable people in our state. The Kalumburu facility will commence shortly, with the announcement of a contractor only last week. We expect that it will be completed towards the middle of next year. We are making those communities safer. They are a priority for our government. Last week the Commissioner of Police and I visited many Aboriginal communities north of our state, including the community at Warmun, formerly known as Turkey Creek. We also met with communities at Oombulgarri and Kalumburu to discuss a range of concerns. We are developing a program to boost community safety in these remote communities. Given that members opposite have chosen to interject on the issue of Kalumburu, I advise that two police officers are already working there. They are housed in quality, permanent housing provided by the Government Employees Housing Authority and initiated by this government. We have not appointed just a couple of constables at Kalumburu; the two officers are a senior sergeant and a sergeant. One has been there for seven months and the other has been there for three months. They are already working in the community in a temporary facility. By the middle of next year they will have a permanent facility to work from. Mr M.J. Cowper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Murray for the first time.
Several members interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I am not going to respond to inane interjections from members opposite because for eight long years they neglected those communities and did not permanently locate police officers in any of them. They completely ignored the indigenous people of this state and their communities. They provided no policing; for example, Balgo had to be patrolled out of Halls Creek. How acceptable is that? It has taken the Gallop government to commit the $21 million to some of the most vulnerable people in our state. The Kalumburu facility will commence shortly, with the announcement of a contractor only last week. We expect that it will be completed towards the middle of next year. We are making those communities safer. They are a priority for our government. Last week the Commissioner of Police and I visited many Aboriginal communities north of our state, including the community at Warmun, formerly known as Turkey Creek. We also met with communities at Oombulgarri and Kalumburu to discuss a range of concerns. We are developing a program to boost community safety in these remote communities. Given that members opposite have chosen to interject on the issue of Kalumburu, I advise that two police officers are already working there. They are housed in quality, permanent housing provided by the Government Employees Housing Authority and initiated by this government. We have not appointed just a couple of constables at Kalumburu; the two officers are a senior sergeant and a sergeant. One has been there for seven months and the other has been there for three months. They are already working in the community in a temporary facility. By the middle of next year they will have a permanent facility to work from. Mr M.J. Cowper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Murray for the first time.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I am not going to respond to inane interjections from members opposite because for eight long years they neglected those communities and did not permanently locate police officers in any of them. They completely ignored the indigenous people of this state and their communities. They provided no policing; for example, Balgo had to be patrolled out of Halls Creek. How acceptable is that? It has taken the Gallop government to commit the $21 million to some of the most vulnerable people in our state. The Kalumburu facility will commence shortly, with the announcement of a contractor only last week. We expect that it will be completed towards the middle of next year. We are making those communities safer. They are a priority for our government. Last week the Commissioner of Police and I visited many Aboriginal communities north of our state, including the community at Warmun, formerly known as Turkey Creek. We also met with communities at Oombulgarri and Kalumburu to discuss a range of concerns. We are developing a program to boost community safety in these remote communities. Given that members opposite have chosen to interject on the issue of Kalumburu, I advise that two police officers are already working there. They are housed in quality, permanent housing provided by the Government Employees Housing Authority and initiated by this government. We have not appointed just a couple of constables at Kalumburu; the two officers are a senior sergeant and a sergeant. One has been there for seven months and the other has been there for three months. They are already working in the community in a temporary facility. By the middle of next year they will have a permanent facility to work from. Mr M.J. Cowper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Murray for the first time.
Given that members opposite have chosen to interject on the issue of Kalumburu, I advise that two police officers are already working there. They are housed in quality, permanent housing provided by the Government Employees Housing Authority and initiated by this government. We have not appointed just a couple of constables at Kalumburu; the two officers are a senior sergeant and a sergeant. One has been there for seven months and the other has been there for three months. They are already working in the community in a temporary facility. By the middle of next year they will have a permanent facility to work from. Mr M.J. Cowper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Murray for the first time.
Mr M.J. Cowper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Murray for the first time.
The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for Murray for the first time.
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