Mr. Masters questions the closure of the Bunbury DIA office given regional development and compares it to the Northam office. The Minister defends the closure as part of a service delivery model change and denies knowledge of resulting difficulties.

AnsweredQoN 3045Legislative Assembly
Asked
17 August 2004
Portfolio
Indigenous Affairs

QuestionView source ↗

(1) Considering the high level of land development activities in the Bunbury region compared with Albany, why was the Bunbury Regional Office of the Department for Indigenous Affairs closed last year?
(2) Why was this office closed when the Northam Regional Office, just 30 minutes drive from the Midland head office of the Department, was not closed?
(3) Does the Minister appreciate the extreme difficulties that people, Aboriginal and others, in the Bunbury region, are now experiencing as a result of the region being serviced from Albany, some 4 and a half hours drive away?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
25 August 2004
Responded by
Minister for Indigenous Affairs
Response time
8 days
(1) The Department of Indigenous Affairs (DIA) has transitioned from a "local area coordination" model of service delivery to a strategic regional approach. All sub offices have been closed to ensure effective and sustainable service provision. (2) As above. The Northam sub office was closed in April 2004. (3) No instances of "extreme difficulty being experienced" have been brought to the attention of DIA or the Minister. DIA services to the Bunbury area are provided from Albany, Perth or Midland depending on the nature of the services required.
(2) As above. The Northam sub office was closed in April 2004. (3) No instances of "extreme difficulty being experienced" have been brought to the attention of DIA or the Minister. DIA services to the Bunbury area are provided from Albany, Perth or Midland depending on the nature of the services required.
(3) No instances of "extreme difficulty being experienced" have been brought to the attention of DIA or the Minister. DIA services to the Bunbury area are provided from Albany, Perth or Midland depending on the nature of the services required.

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