Rick Wilson (O'Connor, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today I want to update the House on a very successful visit to my electorate by the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister and Assistant Minister for Social Services, Alan Tudge. Minister Tudge visited Kalgoorlie on Wednesday, the 19th. Our first stop was at the Goldfields Land and Sea Council, which is the Indigenous body that represents the native title holders in the area. We met with Trevor Donaldson; Lawrence Thomas, who is the chair; and Darren Forster, the program coordinator. The main topic of discussion was the Indigenous ranger program.

I was very privileged to represent Minister Scullion here in Canberra two weeks ago when the Pew foundation handed in their report on the success of the Indigenous ranger program. I was very well aware that this program is working extremely well, but less pleased to hear that there is only one program operating across my electorate. The Ngadju people of Norseman have a privately funded ranger program in their area.

The main topic of conversation with the Goldfields Sea and Land Council and Minister Tudge was how we can get more Indigenous ranger programs happening in my electorate of O'Connor, particularly across the northern goldfields, because the benefits of these programs both to the environment and to the Indigenous landholders are very obvious. I am certainly very keen to support any future applications from the people in my area.