Sue Lines (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

This motion arose because of a snap decision of the WA Barnett government to close the ear service that is run by the Telethon Kids Institute in Western Australia. It is run primarily to pick up hearing difficulties for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. It has an outstanding reputation. It works well, right across the state, and yet, without warning, it has had its funding cut. This is a backward step, given that we are not meeting the targets on Close the Gap.

I would hope that the minister in here, Minister Scullion, speaks urgently to the Western Australian government about their intentions and why they have closed this outstanding service that is of absolute importance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. I would urge all in this chamber, particularly the Western Australians, to take this matter up directly with Premier Barnett.