The Greens WA spokesperson for Aboriginal Affairs, Robin Chapple MLC has expressed concern at Minister Collier’s statement that The Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage: Key Indicators 2014 report showed many improvements because of decisions the State Government had made.
“Although the report shows some improvements in some areas, such as economic and health outcomes, it also states the improvements have slowed in recent years,” Mr Chapple explained.
“Whilst it is great to see the Barnett Government patting itself on the back for the decisions it has made, claiming it has led to more positive outcomes for our Aboriginal community, what about the lack of improvement in literacy and numeracy and the relatively high rates of family and community violence, and chronic disease and disability?
“It is also distressing that we seem to have gone backwards in the area of mental health with hospitalisation for intentional self-harm increasing by almost 50%; adult imprisonment rate increasing by over 50%; and juvenile detention increasing sharply.
“I implore Minister Collier to get his head out of the sand and get this government to start tackling these issues.
“On the issue of Premier Barnett’s plans to close between 100 and 150 of the 274 remote communities in WA, I urge this government to leave people in their communities and provide essential services or is this in the too hard basket?”
For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 0409 379 263 or 9486 8255.
