Hon Robin Chapple questions the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs regarding funding for electricity upgrades in the Kunawarritji community and potential liability for accidents due to unsafe electrical supply. The Minister states they have no power to compel the Western Desert Lands Aboriginal Corporation to release funds and is seeking further information from other ministers.

AnsweredQoN 80Legislative Council
Asked
24 February 2015
Portfolio
Aboriginal Affairs

QuestionView source ↗

KUNAWARRITJI
COMMUNITY — ELECTRICITY SUPPLY
80. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs:
I refer to the potential closure of Aboriginal communities
due to the lack of available funding and, more specifically, to the financial
and electrical problems associated with the community of Kunawarritji.
(1) What power
does the minister have to require the Western Desert Lands Aboriginal
Corporation, which is the prescribed body corporate for Martu, to release
funding to the community to bring the electricity supply up to the 2008
Australian–New Zealand wiring standard, which has an estimated cost of
$335 000?
(2) If no to
(1), will the government facilitate funding to the Kunawarritji community to
ensure that the electricity supply is maintained to the 2008 Australian–New
Zealand wiring standard and is in a safe state?
(3) If no to
(2), who will be liable in the event that there is an accident associated with
this unsafe electricity supply?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question.
(1) None. The
Western Desert Lands Aboriginal Corporation holds the Martu peoples'
native title rights and interests on trust. I do not have authority to require
the Western Desert Lands Aboriginal Corporation to exercise its powers as
trustee in a particular manner.
(2)–(3)
This information is being sourced from the Minister for Housing and the
Minister for Lands, and I will provide a response as soon as possible. I note
that this question was asked on Tuesday, 17 February, so I imagine that that
information will be available very shortly.

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