Minister welcomes power station commissioning in remote WA

Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough, said the commissioning of the Warmun Power Station today was the first step to normalise power services for remote Indigenous communities in Western Australia.

"Warmun Power Station is the first of five new power stations being built under the first phase of the Aboriginal Remote Community Power Supply Project (ARCPSP)," Mr Brough said.

Negotiations for the ARCPSP, a joint initiative of the Australian and Western Australian Governments, began in 1998. In 2005, both governments signed an 11-year agreement worth more than $42.5 million.

"The Australian Government has provided half the ARCPSP funding, $21.25 million, through the Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs," Mr Brough said.

"This investment is another example of the Australian Government’s determination to provide Indigenous Australians with the same level of service as other Australians.

"It is clear that in remote Indigenous communities, basic services are not being properly met," he said.

"In the past governments have been complicit in accepting lower standards of service for Indigenous Australians in remote communities," Mr Brough said.

"Governments must have high expectations for and of Indigenous people. The commissioning of this power station in Warmun is an example of this new determination, as outlined in my Blueprint for Action in Indigenous Affairs," the Minister said.

"I commend the Western Australian Government’s partnership in this initiative and the involvement of Horizon Power in helping close this service provision gap for remote Indigenous communities in Western Australia," Mr Brough said.