WA Aboriginal affairs minister visits Pilbara amid child welfare crisis

Western Australia's Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Don Punch has slammed the politicisation of child protection failures in the state's north and rejected calls for his resignation during a visit to South Hedland.

The town has been subject to intense attention in recent months after evidence of systemic child protection failings emerged.

Facing questions about his role in the crisis, Mr Punch said he was "lobbying for better outcomes for Aboriginal people" and had travelled to South Hedland after receiving a letter from Nyamal-Pitjikarli elder Doris Eaton.

"Aboriginal issues and Aboriginal people are beyond politics," Mr Punch said.

Last month the WA government announced it would hold a coronial inquest in the 2022 murders of three Aboriginal children in nearby Port Hedland, which had been the subject of a lengthy campaign by their grandmother, Dorothy Papertalk.

The case received fresh scrutiny as media reports revealed further allegations of neglect and triggered visits from senior politicians, including the premier, but not the Aboriginal affairs minister.

Mr Punch has faced severe public backlash for ruling out a trip to the Pilbara unless he was specifically asked by elders.

Multiple local elders, including Ms Eaton, told the ABC that Mr Punch should not need an invitation.

In South Hedland today, Mr Punch walked back statements he made about the Aboriginal affairs portfolio only being about native title and heritage protection.

"My job is to go out and listen to Aboriginal people, Aboriginal elders, talk with communities and understand the issues that they're facing," he said.

Calls to step down

Mr Punch's visit came as the opposition launched a petition calling for his sacking from the portfolio.

It has been signed by Robert Isaacs, who has spent decades working to improve the lives of First Nations people.

He said he was motivated by watching decades of Aboriginal affairs ministers who "really haven't performed the work that Aboriginal people expected".

"I want parliament now — the state parliament in WA — to look at appointing an Aboriginal commissioner that reports directly to the parliament," Dr Isaacs said.

"So every member of parliament is getting the metrics across, they're understanding about where this funding is going, billions of dollars, about policies, about directions of programs."

That would replace what he described as a largely powerless portfolio and address concerns about too many people speaking on behalf of Aboriginal Australians, which he said he'd had a "gutful" of.

Mr Punch said he suspected Mr Isaacs was prompted by WA Liberal Leader Basil Zempilas.

"He is making a football of Aboriginal people to simply score his own political goals and it's appalling behaviour," Mr Punch said.

Engaging with politicians 'draining'

Kariyarra elder Patricia Mason was one of the elders who met with Mr Punch during his visit.

"I think Punch just wants it to go away," she said.

"They're about a quick fix, and a quick fix leaves us in a crisis."

Ms Mason said constantly engaging with politicians and the media was taking a toll.

"I'm feeling mentally and physically drained," she said.

Labor won't consider petition

Premier Roger Cook said his party would not consider the parliamentary petition under any circumstance.

"Don's doing a great job. He's working well with the community and we're really proud of his work," he said.

Mr Zempilas hit back at the premier's defence of the minister.

"Has he not read or heard any of the comments from the Aboriginal elders form the Hedland region who are so exasperated by Don Punch's actions?" he said.

Mr Punch has pledged to return to South Hedland in six months.