Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Municipal and essential services are continuing to be delivered by the Commonwealth until the end of June, when the Western Australian government has agreed to take over these services. The Premier of Western Australia, Colin Barnett, confirmed that services would continue when he spoke on the steps of the Western Australia house of parliament last week and said no Aboriginal people would be forced to move from their traditional lands and communities. Last month, the Western Australian government confirmed that the funding provided by the Commonwealth would keep all community funding arrangements in place. It is great to see that state governments are taking up their responsibilities for Indigenous communities, something it does for every other town, city and state. This government will continue working with state and territory government to ensure that services are delivering outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities by making sure that governments work better and are more focused on delivering services on the ground.

Senator Lines interjecting—