Funds to combat violence

The Kimberley Region will benefit from extra staff and resources being provided to combat child abuse and family violence in Aboriginal communities.

Member for the Kimberley Carol Martin said the new $75 million initiatives were part of the State Government's response to the Gordon Inquiry and represented the biggest boost in child protection resources ever seen in WA.

"The government's commitment includes $67 million in new funding over four years and more than 100 additional staff across a range of government agencies," Mrs Martin said.

Premier Geoff Gallop said that for too long the epidemic of sexual and physical abuse towards children and women in Aboriginal communities had been met with silence.

"Today my Government is drawing a line in the sand and saying enough is enough. This has got to stop," Dr Gallop said.

"We have acknowledged the failures exposed by the Gordon Inquiry and are committing unprecedented resources across government to ending the cycle of abuse that is robbing Aboriginal communities of their future."

"I urge Aboriginal people throughout WA to match this historic commitment with a willingness themselves to stamp out the abuse and violence that is destroying too many young lives."

Mrs Martin said the measures unveiled today would ensure that the departments of Community Development, Police and Health, in particular, were better resourced and co-ordinated in the fight against child abuse and family violence.

Specific new initiatives for the Kimberley Region include:

* a specialist domestic violence police officer (one of eight in regional police districts at a cost of $1.8 million);

* the reassignment of 12 additional police officers to the Kimberley (part of the relocation of 21 officers in the regions at a cost of $8.6 million);

* four additional child protection workers (part of 25 new child protection workers worth $12 million);

* the appointment of a new Aboriginal support worker to provide advice and support for Aboriginal children (one of 14 new support workers across the state worth $5 million);

* expansion of the 'Strong Families' program with one new coordinator to be located in Broome (one of 10 new regional coordinators at $7.7 million);

* a Department of Justice (DOJ) program officer (one of four new officers across regional WA); and

* a DOJ training and liaison officer (one of three new officers in the regions).

Other initiatives include:

* building nine new multi-functional police stations in remote locations servicing more than 40 isolated Aboriginal communities ($10 million);

* developing locally-based security initiatives in Aboriginal communities that will protect children and women ($6 million);

* expanding the Child Protection Unit at Princess Margaret Hospital ($3.2 million); and

* expanding the provision of sexual assault services, including the capacity of the Sexual Assault Referral Service and new counselling services in nine regional locations ($3.9million).

Mrs Martin said the Government had given in principle support to all but two of the Gordon Inquiry's 197 recommendations.

These were the appointment of a Children's Commissioner and a new memorandum of understanding between the Government and the Swan Valley Nyungah Community.