Sue Lines (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I have had a look back at the series of questions the Minister for Indigenous Affairs has been asked about cuts to the Aboriginal budget—cuts to organisations including the very serious issue in the north-west of Western Australia with the children and family centres. They have been cut right across the country. I think Senator Scullion is the minister for platitudes. That is all we have had from him. Today he started off by telling us that there was no point asking him. Well he is the minister and he is responsible. That was one answer to a question, and he went on to answer other questions by telling us that his staff were buoyant. He said that a number of times. Then we asked him about the serious concerns of the Senior Australian of the Year, Fred Chaney—one of their own; they like to throw up Martin Ferguson and Paul Howes and others to us. Fred Chaney is a respected senior Australian, a person with expertise in the Aboriginal community, but the minister completely disregarded and dismissed the very valid concerns he had about what is happening with Aboriginal funding. The minister assured us that we had absolutely nothing to worry about. When senior respected Australians very experienced in Aboriginal affairs say there is something to worry about, which is what Fred Chaney has said, I will put my money on Fred Chaney—there is obviously something to worry about.

Last week when we pursued questions to the minister for platitudes about the closure of children and family centres particularly in Western Australia but right across the country, his answer was 'so be it.' They are just shutting those centres down. We heard from government senators today trying to convince us that they are concerned about the wellbeing and the advancement of Aboriginal people in this country. If they are genuinely concerned it is time they held their own government to account. Of course we have to improve the educational levels of Australia's children, particularly vulnerable children—and a number of Aboriginal children unfortunately fall into that category—but you do not improve children's education by cutting children and family services. I met face to face with the Western Australian state government bureaucrats, and they told me that they were so concerned about the closure of the centres that they put $1 million of Western Australian money into those Western Australian centres to keep them open until December. That impost of $1 million on the Western Australian budget simply cannot be contained, but they are very serious and very concerned about the ongoing viability of the services.

I just do not know how in anyone's imagination you could possibly justify not continuing to fund these children and family centres. Because it is Halls Creek and Fitzroy Crossing and all of the other remote and rural places these centres are in, it seems that out of sight is out of mind. I am sick to death of the minister for platitudes coming in here and telling us that there have been no cuts to the Aboriginal budget. Our Prime Minister declares himself as some kind of Aboriginal advocate, but we have been left wanting and waiting. In the budget Mr Hockey did not once mention Aboriginal people, and there are no innovative new programs. All we keep hearing about here is getting children to school. Improving education is much more than getting kids to school—it starts with children from birth. The government completely disregards that, and it is going to allow these children and family centres to close in December. That disgrace will be on their watch and Aboriginal families will not forget it.

Question agreed to.