Funding for Kalgoorlie Aboriginal patrol mini-bus

16/2/94

The Wunngagutu Patrol in Kalgoorlie has been provided with $36,000 to acquire a mini-bus, so it can continue its highly successful community work.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Kevin Prince said today the State Government was committed to supporting the patrol which was, until recently, relying on borrowed vehicles.

These became unavailable due to other agencies' commitments.  Local businesses have provided operating funds.

Mr Prince said funding for the mini-bus for Kalgoorlie was being provided through the Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority, because the patrol addressed recommendations made by the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.  These related to juvenile justice matters and reducing the number of Aboriginal people being taken into police custody for minor offences such as drunkenness.

"The patrol has proved how valuable it can be in a comparatively short time and funding used for its operations will be very well spent," Mr Prince said.

"This is a quick and practical way to address a serious social problem, and I commend the people involved in operating the patrol."

The Minister said there were now three successful street patrols which operated in Western Australia, the other two being the Kullarri Patrol at Broome and the Yamatji Patrol at Geraldton.

The Broome patrol recently won the Australian Violence Prevention Award - a national prize.  All the patrols had proved to be highly effective in reducing street problems, particularly those involving alcohol and substance abuse.

The results of the Wunngagutu Patrol, since its inception about three months ago, were particularly impressive.  Its volunteer team had assisted 900 adults and 77 substance abusers, and there had been a drop of almost 40 per cent in the number of complaints to police about disturbances, drunkenness and substance sniffing.  At the same time, arrests in Kalgoorlie/Boulder had dropped about 25 per cent while the number of detainees in the lockup had fallen by about 80 per cent.

Media contact:  Ross Storey 321 1444 or 222 9595