Local Aboriginal Jobs Sacrificed in Shoddy Government Contract Deal
14 June 2013
Greens WA spokesperson on Aboriginal issues, Robin Chapple MLC, is outraged over the axing of Aboriginal jobs in WA’s Mid West region, while Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert has also expressed her concern.
“I’m very concerned that the Federal Government’s new program maybe be undermining efforts to support Aboriginal people across WA, especially in regards to training and employment,” Senator Rachel Siewert said today.
Mr Chapple continued - “In one fell swoop, the federal government has taken the axe to 31 Aboriginal workers’ jobs across the Mid-West and Goldfields.
“They can dress this up however they like, but the fact remains that these people now face a very bleak future, thanks to the misguided decision to wind up the Community Development and Employment Program (CDEP).
“CDEP has delivered tremendous benefits to communities across the Mining and Pastoral Region, which I represent in state parliament”, said Mr Chapple.
“MEEDAC and Yulella are making a real difference for Aboriginal people in the Mid West - Big Brother, in the guise of ‘market forces’ has now come along and pulled the rug out from under them.
“What stupidity this is – taking jobs away from Aboriginal people, and giving them to whitefellas, so they can tell the Aboriginals whether they can have a job or not!
“I just despair at the continuation of these patronizing attitudes that lead to perpetuating the very sort of problems that our governments repeatedly pay only lip service to fixing”, said Mr Chapple.
Senator Siewert added - “The latest COAG Reform Council report on Closing the Gap found that Western Australia has seen the nation’s largest increase in the employment gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. Rather than closing, the gap has increased by 5.5%.
“Cuts such as these undermine the commitment that has been made to close the gap for Aboriginal people.”
“The Greens strongly support MEEDAC in their efforts to have this appalling mistake rectified as soon as possible”, Mr Chapple concluded.
New Minister Sees the Light on Incarceration Rates?
6th May 2013
Greens WA Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region, and spokesperson on Aboriginal issues, Robin Chapple MLC, has welcomed yesterday’s reported statements from Corrective Services Minister Joe Francis which seem to herald a fresh approach to the problem of WA’s increasing prison population.
“I am very pleased to hear the Minister’s words on justice reinvestment as part of a new look at prevention programs which are so desperately needed in WA.
“The contrast with his predecessor could not be starker – or more welcome.
“I recently attended the declaration ceremony for the Birriliburu Indigenous Protected Area (IPA), which was a clear demonstration of the effectiveness of alternative strategies – the Martu people have shown a remarkable aptitude for remote area Ranger duties.
“Further north, in Fitzroy Crossing, the Yiriman Project has achieved outstanding success in diverting at-risk youngsters away from the justice system.
“All of us realize that there has to be a better way – not this incessant treadmill of finger-pointing and blame-shifting – where the inevitable outcome is our state’s scandalous reputation for shockingly high rates of incarceration among aboriginal people.
“I now await some action from the Minister, because words are just not enough in this important area which affects people’s lives at such a basic level”, concluded Mr Chapple.
