Friday, 11 September
WA Greens spokesperson on Aboriginal Affairs Robin Chapple MLC said he was disgusted to learn this morning that community maintenance work at Mowanjum, undertaken by local men, had been outsourced to a Victorian contractor.
“I have never been more ashamed than of the Barnett government’s relentless attacks on Aboriginal people, agency and culture in Western Australia,” Mr Chapple said.
“All the Government rhetoric about reform for remote Aboriginal communities to address social issues means absolutely nothing; they simply do not care.
“It has been proven time and again that local, meaningful, employment is one of the most effective methods of dealing with mental health issues in remote communities.
“There is a fundamental flaw in the system here and that is where reform should be targeted; these at-risk young men were undertaking meaningful work within their own community and are now unemployed.”
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