Aboriginal Affairs Minister Don Punch accused of not listening to concerns

Complex problems require clear leadership, and few are more complex than safeguarding children from abuse.

A stream of media reports in recent months have highlighted how WA's child protection system has failed to address that problem, particularly for Indigenous children living around Port Hedland, where the state makes its riches.

In the weeks since, there has been little clear ownership of the underlying problems.

Child Protection Minister Jessica Stojkovski has made changes in Hedland, including appointing the state's most senior caseworker to oversee investigations and flying in more staff.

The problems go beyond her portfolio, and beyond Port Hedland, but one colleague has largely been trying to distance himself from the issues.

Leadership needed

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Don Punch insists he is working on these challenges behind the scenes, but says it's ultimately not his problem to solve.

"Aboriginal affairs is about managing a land estate, it's about negotiating compensation on native title, it's about heritage protection," he told ABC South West.

"The issues of welfare of Aboriginal people are a collective responsibility for the cabinet."

Punch has finally agreed to visit the area after plenty of criticism from the opposition, although a date is yet to be set.

"What I went up there and saw was a community crying out for help, crying out for leadership," Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas said.

"The premier left them in the lurch and only went up very late in the piece, and still the Aboriginal affairs minister has not bothered fronting."

"He should be ashamed. He should quit."

The minister of course rejected that idea and continued to point out that his portfolio "does not have a direct responsibility for housing or health or child protection".

Which is true. Each has its own minister responsible for an incredibly complex policy area.

But looking at the issue in that way risks treating the matter in the headlines as purely a child protection issue, which it isn't.

Child protection generally gets involved with families when multiple things are going wrong.

Housing stress, homelessness, health issues including addiction, kids not attending school and family and domestic violence are some of the reasons.

Those issues are particularly acute for First Nations Western Australians.

The rate of Aboriginal children in care is some 19 times higher than the non-Aboriginal population.

The title "Aboriginal affairs" creates the perception, for some, that Punch is the man working across those parts of government to look after First Nations Western Australians, including those over-represented in the child protection system.

It's a perception helped by the state government's own website explaining that the portfolio is responsible for "managing and supporting Aboriginal welfare, heritage and culture".

'Passing the buck'

When Kariyarra elder Patricia Mason heard Punch distance himself from the current headlines, she called on him to quit.

"It's a game they're playing around each other in cabinet that it's not my responsibility, it's yours," she told the ABC.

"Passing the buck around that portfolio doesn't hold any weight for us as human beings."

Nymal elder Linda Doogiebee was similarly frustrated.

"We're going around in circles, and the impact here is about our Aboriginal children and the families," she said.

And that's the problem with responsibilities being divided without having a clear leader — those who need help don't get it.

Acknowledgement needed

Punch seemed to acknowledge that aspect of his role when parliament last sat.

"I am regularly invited to meet with traditional owners on country to listen directly to their concerns and discuss the issues affecting their communities, including the delivery of essential government service," he said.

"I work closely with ministerial colleagues whose portfolios directly affect Aboriginal communities, including the minister for child protection."

But there have been few tangible examples he's been able to point to of him helping to resolve one of the most visible examples of Aboriginal disadvantage.

Instead, it's largely been about how it's not in his portfolio.

It was a similar story when he presented the government's annual Closing the Gap progress report to parliament this year.

It showed no change for WA in child protection, and the state going backwards on child development.

But none of that warranted a mention in his speech, which instead focused only on positive elements like new partnership agreements and an emergency ambulance services trial.

Important measures which should be celebrated, of course.

But given the scale of need and the cries for help coming from places like Hedland — and many others across the state — those living in the gap every day at least want an acknowledgement of the problem.

Listening key

Instead of seeing a minister take ownership of real challenges, community leaders say they see a minister shifting responsibility.

"It's creating so much concern for us as to wondering what's the future going to be for these young children that are in foster care and their parents," Doogiebee said.

After decades of broken promises about improving the lives of Aboriginal Western Australians, elders want leaders who will listen and offer a clear plan forward.

Premier Roger Cook was asked what those plans were when he visited Hedland last month, and what hope people should have that these long-standing issues will be addressed.

"We have teams working here, day in, day out, to keep the community safe and to work with them," he said.

"Kevin Michel, as the local member, works with community leaders on how best to configure and resource the services that we provide."

"But that's no different between this community and any other in Western Australia."

The first step in working with those communities is ensuring people feel heard — whether by the Aboriginal affairs minister, or anyone else who can lead the charge within the halls of power.