The Western Australian Indigenous Affairs Minister, Kim Hames, has ruled out a Northern Territory-style intervention into remote Kimberley Aboriginal communities.
The former federal minister for Indigenous affairs, Mal Brough, says the WA Government must act urgently to prevent what he describes as "continuing atrocities" in Aboriginal communities.
In the past week, five community members have been charged with more than 100 child sex offences.
Dr Hames accepts Aboriginal children in the Kimberley are at risk.
"We’re not considering closing any communities but we’re certainly looking at the issue of alcohol management. I’ve supported the approach that was taken in the Fitzroy," Dr Hames said.
Dr Hames has reiterated his plan to set up a committee, headed by John Sanderson, to implement the recommendations of a number of reports on Indigenous communities.
He says he cannot say when the committee will start work.
Meanwhile, Greens’ Senator Rachel Siewert has rejected calls for East Kimberley communities to be closed, saying increased funding for basic infrastructure should be the priority.
She says the "heavy-handed" approach used during the NT intervention has failed dismally and Aboriginal people need to retain control of their communities.
"I think it’s a simplistic approach response for the former minister to say, ‘well, we should be getting rid of these remote outstations because that will deal with the issue of Aboriginal disadvantage’," she said.
"I think that’s a flawed approach. I feel very strongly we should be talking to communities and communities need to make the decisions about how best to direct resources."