Indigenous affairs minister refuses to own Port Hedland child protection crisis
Aboriginal Affairs Minister Don Punch is resisting calls to take responsibility. Child protection failures are affecting Indigenous families in Port Hedland.
Don Punch is Aboriginal Affairs Minister. He's been criticized for stepping back from a child protection crisis in Port Hedland.
Indigenous children there are over-represented in care. The rate is about 19 times higher than for non-Aboriginal children.
Punch told ABC South West that child protection is a collective responsibility. He said it falls outside his portfolio.
Don Punch's refusal to engage drew sharp criticism from Kariyarra and Nymal elders. They say he's passing the buck.
"It's a game they're playing around each other in cabinet," elder Patricia Mason told the ABC. Child Protection Minister Jessica Stojkovski made changes in Port Hedland.
She appointed senior caseworkers. She also flew in extra staff.
Punch agreed to visit the area after opposition pressure. But no date has been set.
- 19 times higher
- Care rate disparity
- Patricia Mason
- Elder critic
- Land, native title, heritage
- Punch's portfolio claim
- Port Hedland
- Location
Why it mattersWhen government ministers avoid responsibility for crises that overlap, communities get stuck in gaps. Children stay unprotected.
AustraliaAboriginal children in Western Australia are waiting for leadership from state government that will either solve the problem or admit it cannot, rather than watch ministers blame each other.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 2 h ago
