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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 1234 asked in the Legislative Council on 5 November 2020 by Hon Ken Baston

Parliament: 40 Session: 1

CORONAVIRUS — REMOTE ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES

1234. Hon KEN BASTON to the minister representing the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs:

I refer to the announcement that Western Australia will open its border to some interstate travellers from 14 November.

(1) Are additional resources being provided to remote Aboriginal communities to manage the possibility of increased visitors, traffic and movement of community residents?

(2) If yes, could the minister please outline these additional resources?

Hon STEPHEN DAWSON replied:

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question.

(1)–(2) Although the controlled border to some interstate travellers will come into effect on 14 November 2020, the access to remote Aboriginal communities will remain unchanged. Remote Aboriginal communities will remain closed under Remote Aboriginal Communities Directions (No. 3).

The state government continues to dedicate resources to support remote Aboriginal communities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A specialised, cross-agency remote Aboriginal communities emergency mobilisation unit is working closely with remote communities to strengthen their preparedness to respond to an outbreak. The McGowan government has allocated an additional $3.1 million under a remote Aboriginal communities COVID-19 emergency relief fund to finance emergency works and enhance liveability in remote communities. As Western Australia moves towards a controlled border, information on the border changes, along with COVID-19 health and safety messaging, is being translated into multiple Aboriginal languages.