Funds for remote communities to continue into 2017

Funding for municipal services in remote communities will continue into 2017 as the WA Greens launch a bill to prevent forced closure of Aboriginal communities.

The State Government has announced $25.6m to provide essential services such as power, water, rubbish collection and road maintenance for the State’s 164 remote communities.

Housing Minister Colin Holt said the funding would support the provision of a range of services during 2016-17 following the withdrawal of Australian Government funding last year.

Treasurer Mike Nahan said the funding for 2016-17 would be delivered through eight regional service providers and directly through a number of individual Aboriginal community corporations.

“These organisations hire workers from regional areas ensuring communities not only benefit from the continued provision of essential services, but also receive much-needed job opportunities,” he said.

“(This) brings the total State Government investment in remote communities and town-based reserves for housing and related services in 2016-17 to $74.6 million.”

The announcement came as Greens Member for Mining and Pastoral Robin Chapple tabled a draft bill in Parliament to prevent the forced closure of Aboriginal communities either directly or through a limitation of municipal services.

Mr Chapple said the bill was a reflection of the deep lack of trust felt by Aboriginal people towards the State Government.

“This legislation is important in that it acknowledges and enshrines the deep cultural, spiritual, familial and social relationship Aboriginal peoples have with the land,” he said.

“By releasing a draft for public comment I want to ensure that Aboriginal people in Western Australia are given an opportunity to comment on the wording, scope and intention of this important piece of legislation.

“Aboriginal communities are absolutely crucial to ensuring that a reform process delivers on its promise of closing the gap, otherwise there is a very real danger of history repeating itself.”

Regional Development Minister Terry Redman has previously stated the State Government has no intentions of forcing indigenous people off their land.

Ongoing State Government funding will be considered in the context of the Liberal National Government’s Regional Services Reform to remote communities.