A call by the Federal Opposition to extend the Northern Territory intervention into WA has drawn an angry response from a state MP.
The Productivity Commission’s report on Indigenous living standards yesterday revealed conditions are worsening in some areas, including incarceration rates and child abuse.
The federal deputy Opposition leader Julie Bishop says there has been little progress in Aboriginal education, health and housing in WA.
She says the situation in WA is dire and the Federal Government needs to take the lead.
“I would like to see the intervention moved into WA as well,” she said.
“There are some drastic circumstances for Indigenous people in the north of Western Australia.”
But the member for the Kimberley Carol Martin has described the call as ignorant and out of touch.
Ms Martin says Ms Bishop has no idea of the progress already being made to improve indigenous living conditions in the state’s north.
“I think Julie Bishop doesn’t know what she’s talking about, what an inditement on her,” she said.
“She’s actually a West Australian member of Parliament, and she doesn’t know what’s happening in her backyard.
“We’ve got police stations in remote Aboriginal communities , we’ve had our own form of justice for children, we’re dealing with poverty and here she is saying rubbish like that.”