In The Media | 29 March 2017

Social Justice Issues Remain High as Labor Sweeps into Power in WA

Social justice issues remain a major concern in Western Australia despite the Labor party’s landslide election victory at the weekend, according to the social services sector in that state.

The WA Council of Social Service (WACOSS) congratulated Labor leader Mark McGowan saying that now the election is over there is still significant work to be done.

The Labor party won in a landslide victory securing more than 40 seats in the lower house of Parliament, sweeping Colin Barnett’s Liberal government out of office after more than eight years.

WACOSS CEO Louise Giolitto told Pro Bono News: “There’s no denying that McGowan has become premier at a time when WA is facing some serious social and economic issues.”

“Mark McGowan and Labor did release policies around social justice and social reinvestment and we are very keen to work with them on that to make sure that it meets the community’s needs, especially Aboriginal communities.

“We need to rethink how we work with Aboriginal young people in particular and steer them away from the justice system and look at the deep entrenched trauma that has affected the aboriginal community.

“Labor does have a policy platform and we are keen to ensure that they work with the community service sector and especially the Indigenous communities on how that will look and operate.”

McGowan is yet to reveal Labor’s position on WA’s future disability services delivery model and stand-alone, state-run National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Source: Pro Bono Australia