
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley making second visit out West in a fortnight with a trip to the Kimberley
Fresh from a three-day-visit to Perth this week, Ms Ley has pencilled in August 1-4 for a visit up north, visiting communities like Broome, Kununurra and Wyndham.
She will be joined by Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians, Kerrynne Liddle, and local Member for Durack, Melissa Price.
'The Coalition's vision is for a country that works alongside Indigenous Australians, in dignity, opportunity and mutual respect,' Ms Ley said.
'We want Indigenous communities to be places where everyone, especially women and children, feel more than safe – but empowered.
'I promised a fresh approach at the outset of my leadership and part of that will be listening to Indigenous Australians where they are, with my outstanding colleague Kerrynne Liddle.'
Ms Ley said Liberal MP Julian Leeser would represent the Coalition at the Garma Festival, Australia's largest Indigenous gathering, in north-east Arnhem land at the same time.
'We value the opportunity to be part of Garma and I know Julian will bring the insights of the festival back to our Shadow Cabinet table,' Ms Ley said.
Ms Ley's decision to make two visits to WA in a space of a fortnight highlights how important the west is to the Coalition's chances of of becoming a political phoenix.
The Federal Liberals hold just four out of 16 seats here in WA and desperately want to improve on that at the expected 2028 federal poll.
Senator Liddle said attention was often on the Northern Territory. But she said the Coalition was aware of communities with significant challenges in regions across the country, like far north-west Australia.
'This trip is an opportunity to understand why the local rates of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, family violence, suicide, hospitalisations for chronic illness, diabetes and heart failure are some of the highest in the nation,' she said.
'We are also keen on hearing good stories where progress is being made and that includes understanding what's needed for greater economic prosperity, social inclusion and progress.'
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The Advertiser
38 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Councils accuse territory government of overt racism
A territory government has been accused of overt racism and promoting policies that harm Indigenous people. Aboriginal land councils have taken aim at the Northern Territory government, saying it has failed to work with them to reduce crime and boost economic development. But NT Aboriginal Affairs Minister Steve Edgington has refuted the claims, saying the government was working towards empowering Indigenous communities. After a two-day meeting in Darwin, the four NT land councils have urged the Country Liberal Party government to stop ignoring them and come to the table to address key issues. They include growing Indigenous incarceration rates and improved economic opportunities to benefit Aboriginal communities. Northern Land Council chair Matthew Ryan told reporters outside the NT parliament on Thursday there was overt racism in government policies. "Let me be very honest - there is, no buts about it," he said. "Unfortunately, it's still happening. We want to eliminate that, we want a genuine partnership ... at the moment there's none." He said Aboriginal people wanted to be part of the territory's economic development but it was "appalling" government ministers were failing to work with or listen to the land councils to promote that. Since coming to power on an anti-crime platform in 2024, the government has toughened bail laws and provided hundreds of new prison beds as more Aboriginal youths are locked up. It has also lowered the age of criminal responsibility from 12 to 10 years. Mr Ryan said the law and order funding would be better spent on providing programs to keep Aboriginal youths out of jail. He said the land councils were also united in wanting to work with the NT police commissioner to address racism within the force. Central Land Council deputy chair Barbara Shaw said racism against Aboriginal people began when the ships arrived in 1788 "but we're still standing here today". "If the government would only listen to us and work with us in genuine partnership in tackling crime in the Northern Territory, we wouldn't be stacking and racking in our prisons," she said. Ms Shaw said the government should listen to the elders to take children back onto Country to be with family and keep them out of jail. Mr Edgington said the government was working with the four land councils and other Indigenous bodies on Closing the Gap initiatives. "We are also working in partnership with Aboriginal people to empower communities that want a greater say," he said. Mr Edgington said the NT and federal governments were making major investments in remote communities including building new homes and boosting health and other critical services. However, an Aboriginal justice agency has called for federal funding for remote policing and other justice operations to be suspended until the NT government changes its hardline approach to crime. North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency acting CEO Anthony Beven said the Commonwealth should put conditions on the table to say "we shouldn't be locking young kids up". NT Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby said Mr Beven's funding suspension demand was "utterly absurd". A territory government has been accused of overt racism and promoting policies that harm Indigenous people. Aboriginal land councils have taken aim at the Northern Territory government, saying it has failed to work with them to reduce crime and boost economic development. But NT Aboriginal Affairs Minister Steve Edgington has refuted the claims, saying the government was working towards empowering Indigenous communities. After a two-day meeting in Darwin, the four NT land councils have urged the Country Liberal Party government to stop ignoring them and come to the table to address key issues. They include growing Indigenous incarceration rates and improved economic opportunities to benefit Aboriginal communities. Northern Land Council chair Matthew Ryan told reporters outside the NT parliament on Thursday there was overt racism in government policies. "Let me be very honest - there is, no buts about it," he said. "Unfortunately, it's still happening. We want to eliminate that, we want a genuine partnership ... at the moment there's none." He said Aboriginal people wanted to be part of the territory's economic development but it was "appalling" government ministers were failing to work with or listen to the land councils to promote that. Since coming to power on an anti-crime platform in 2024, the government has toughened bail laws and provided hundreds of new prison beds as more Aboriginal youths are locked up. It has also lowered the age of criminal responsibility from 12 to 10 years. Mr Ryan said the law and order funding would be better spent on providing programs to keep Aboriginal youths out of jail. He said the land councils were also united in wanting to work with the NT police commissioner to address racism within the force. Central Land Council deputy chair Barbara Shaw said racism against Aboriginal people began when the ships arrived in 1788 "but we're still standing here today". "If the government would only listen to us and work with us in genuine partnership in tackling crime in the Northern Territory, we wouldn't be stacking and racking in our prisons," she said. Ms Shaw said the government should listen to the elders to take children back onto Country to be with family and keep them out of jail. Mr Edgington said the government was working with the four land councils and other Indigenous bodies on Closing the Gap initiatives. "We are also working in partnership with Aboriginal people to empower communities that want a greater say," he said. Mr Edgington said the NT and federal governments were making major investments in remote communities including building new homes and boosting health and other critical services. However, an Aboriginal justice agency has called for federal funding for remote policing and other justice operations to be suspended until the NT government changes its hardline approach to crime. North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency acting CEO Anthony Beven said the Commonwealth should put conditions on the table to say "we shouldn't be locking young kids up". NT Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby said Mr Beven's funding suspension demand was "utterly absurd". A territory government has been accused of overt racism and promoting policies that harm Indigenous people. Aboriginal land councils have taken aim at the Northern Territory government, saying it has failed to work with them to reduce crime and boost economic development. But NT Aboriginal Affairs Minister Steve Edgington has refuted the claims, saying the government was working towards empowering Indigenous communities. After a two-day meeting in Darwin, the four NT land councils have urged the Country Liberal Party government to stop ignoring them and come to the table to address key issues. They include growing Indigenous incarceration rates and improved economic opportunities to benefit Aboriginal communities. Northern Land Council chair Matthew Ryan told reporters outside the NT parliament on Thursday there was overt racism in government policies. "Let me be very honest - there is, no buts about it," he said. "Unfortunately, it's still happening. We want to eliminate that, we want a genuine partnership ... at the moment there's none." He said Aboriginal people wanted to be part of the territory's economic development but it was "appalling" government ministers were failing to work with or listen to the land councils to promote that. Since coming to power on an anti-crime platform in 2024, the government has toughened bail laws and provided hundreds of new prison beds as more Aboriginal youths are locked up. It has also lowered the age of criminal responsibility from 12 to 10 years. Mr Ryan said the law and order funding would be better spent on providing programs to keep Aboriginal youths out of jail. He said the land councils were also united in wanting to work with the NT police commissioner to address racism within the force. Central Land Council deputy chair Barbara Shaw said racism against Aboriginal people began when the ships arrived in 1788 "but we're still standing here today". "If the government would only listen to us and work with us in genuine partnership in tackling crime in the Northern Territory, we wouldn't be stacking and racking in our prisons," she said. Ms Shaw said the government should listen to the elders to take children back onto Country to be with family and keep them out of jail. Mr Edgington said the government was working with the four land councils and other Indigenous bodies on Closing the Gap initiatives. "We are also working in partnership with Aboriginal people to empower communities that want a greater say," he said. Mr Edgington said the NT and federal governments were making major investments in remote communities including building new homes and boosting health and other critical services. However, an Aboriginal justice agency has called for federal funding for remote policing and other justice operations to be suspended until the NT government changes its hardline approach to crime. North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency acting CEO Anthony Beven said the Commonwealth should put conditions on the table to say "we shouldn't be locking young kids up". NT Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby said Mr Beven's funding suspension demand was "utterly absurd". A territory government has been accused of overt racism and promoting policies that harm Indigenous people. Aboriginal land councils have taken aim at the Northern Territory government, saying it has failed to work with them to reduce crime and boost economic development. But NT Aboriginal Affairs Minister Steve Edgington has refuted the claims, saying the government was working towards empowering Indigenous communities. After a two-day meeting in Darwin, the four NT land councils have urged the Country Liberal Party government to stop ignoring them and come to the table to address key issues. They include growing Indigenous incarceration rates and improved economic opportunities to benefit Aboriginal communities. Northern Land Council chair Matthew Ryan told reporters outside the NT parliament on Thursday there was overt racism in government policies. "Let me be very honest - there is, no buts about it," he said. "Unfortunately, it's still happening. We want to eliminate that, we want a genuine partnership ... at the moment there's none." He said Aboriginal people wanted to be part of the territory's economic development but it was "appalling" government ministers were failing to work with or listen to the land councils to promote that. Since coming to power on an anti-crime platform in 2024, the government has toughened bail laws and provided hundreds of new prison beds as more Aboriginal youths are locked up. It has also lowered the age of criminal responsibility from 12 to 10 years. Mr Ryan said the law and order funding would be better spent on providing programs to keep Aboriginal youths out of jail. He said the land councils were also united in wanting to work with the NT police commissioner to address racism within the force. Central Land Council deputy chair Barbara Shaw said racism against Aboriginal people began when the ships arrived in 1788 "but we're still standing here today". "If the government would only listen to us and work with us in genuine partnership in tackling crime in the Northern Territory, we wouldn't be stacking and racking in our prisons," she said. Ms Shaw said the government should listen to the elders to take children back onto Country to be with family and keep them out of jail. Mr Edgington said the government was working with the four land councils and other Indigenous bodies on Closing the Gap initiatives. "We are also working in partnership with Aboriginal people to empower communities that want a greater say," he said. Mr Edgington said the NT and federal governments were making major investments in remote communities including building new homes and boosting health and other critical services. However, an Aboriginal justice agency has called for federal funding for remote policing and other justice operations to be suspended until the NT government changes its hardline approach to crime. North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency acting CEO Anthony Beven said the Commonwealth should put conditions on the table to say "we shouldn't be locking young kids up". NT Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby said Mr Beven's funding suspension demand was "utterly absurd".

Sky News AU
2 hours ago
- Sky News AU
'I will not stand for that': Senator Michaelia Cash slams Penny Wong, claiming she ‘sought to dismiss' Jacinta Nampinipa Price
Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Michaelia Cash has told Sky News she 'will not stand' for Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price being dismissed for her views on Welcome to Country. Ms Cash slammed Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong in the Senate on Thursday for having 'sought to dismiss" Ms Price's views on Welcome to Country, which the Indigenous Senator believes is 'virtue signalling' before every Parliamentary session. The fiery stoush came after One Nation leader Pauline Hanson led a protest from her party to turn their backs on the Acknowledgement of Country ceremony during the opening of Parliament on Tuesday. During Thursday's Senate sitting, Ms Price said she was "sick to death" of the Indigenous heritage being 'objectified" and used as "political tokens". Ms Price said Australians should be proud of all backgrounds and cultures. After the Indigenous Senator spoke, Ms Wong launched into a rebuke of Ms Hanson over her protest and urged Ms Price to heed the words of Liberal leader Sussan Ley, who is more supportive of Acknowledgement of Country ceremonies. Ms Wong quoted Ms Ley as saying: "May it set the tone as we recommit ourselves to the taking of practical action to improve lives and expand opportunities for Indigenous Australians in every part of our great country." An enraged Ms Cash fired up over the dismissal of Ms Hanson and Ms Price's opinions and said the One Nation leader had "every right" to have a point of view. Ms Cash further defended Ms Price's remarks and demanded the chamber read up on the Indigenous Senator's past and upbringing before casting "aspersions" or "tell us to respect other words". "Do not ever demean anybody. Senator Jacinta Nampajimpa Price. Her mother's story—Bess Price—I suggest you all read it. A woman walking through the desert was her mother," Ms Cash said. "I suggest you read the story of Bess Price before you ever come in here and cast aspersions or tell us, Senator Wong, to respect other words. "I will stand by and respect Senator Jacinta Nampajimpa Price, who every day has lived and breathed reconciliation in this country. Her father is white, her mother is black. "Don't ever come into this place again and pontificate to us like you've just done." Speaking to Sky News after the Senate stoush, Ms Cash said she will 'defend' Senator Price and the right for her to voice her opinion 'every single day of the week". "In relation to Senator Hanson and One Nation turning their backs on the President during the [Acknowledgement of Country], which I've made clear to Senator Hanson and she accepts is inappropriate, unfortunately became a debate in relation to whether or not a Welcome to Country is appropriate,' she told Chris Kenny. "Senator Malarndirri McCarthy put Labor's point of view articulately, Senator Waters the Greens, Senator Pauline Hanson, One Nation, and then Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price articulately and through lived experience gave her opinion. That should have been the end of the matter, Chris, but Senator Wong, as leader of the government, decided that she would be the last speaker and sought to dismiss Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price's view. "I will not stand for that. Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price's opinion in relation to whether or not a Welcome to Country is appropriate is as relevant as any other Senators."

Sky News AU
4 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Michaelia Cash defends Jacinta Price in explosive parliamentary speech
Liberal Senator Michaelia Cash discusses her explosive parliamentary speech in defence of Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price.