MEDIA STATEMENT BY THE ABORIGINAL LEGAL SERVICE OF WA 30 July 2009

MEDIA STATEMENT BY THE ABORIGINAL LEGAL SERVICE OF WA 30 July 2009

In a week that has well and truly shown Liberal WA’s true colours, their legacy will now be remembered as a heartless party without care or compassion for the people of W.A. One must ponder the moral fabric of such a state and those who govern it when the disregard for humanity has been so blatantly disturbing and disgraceful.

“What we are faced with is a boom state that is now morally bankrupt and a government with a fire sale on values and ethics” said Dennis Eggington CEO of the ALSWA.

Mr Eggington’s comments follow an increasing list of low blows recently delivered by the WA government including:

  • The betrayal of over 10,000 people abused as children in state care who received the gut wrenching news via the media that the promised $80,000 top payment for Redress WA applicants would most likely be reduced to $45,000;
  • The axing of WA’s $750,000 funeral assistance program for this state’s most needy – a final cruel blow to already vulnerable families;
  • A public campaign outlining their proposed Prohibitive Behaviour Orders (PBO’s) which involves introducing legislation that could lead to naming and shaming children, displaying their photo and banning young people from certain areas.

ALSWA is shocked by the cruel and ruthless tactics shown by this government and says the foundations of democracy are now being undermined. “Sadly, the reality for all fair-minded West Australians is that we are living under a government that doesn’t care about people. This is evident through their refusal to acknowledge a financial obligation to Redress applicants” said Mr. Eggington.

“They have now also shown through their push for PBO’s that they have no moral or ethical obligation in protecting the interests and rights of any child in WA” he said.
ALSWA challenges the WA Attorney General and parliament to seek the views of the Commissioner for Children, whose legislative role is to report to government on the effects of legislation of children. “Where an adverse finding is found, the government must then be obliged to change that legislation” said Mr. Eggington.