24/10/96
Respected Aboriginal leader Ken Colbung AM, MBE, JP has been appointed to the Police Minister's Council on Aboriginal, Police and Community Relations.
Announcing the newly formed council today, Police Minister Bob Wiese said he was pleased Mr Colbung had accepted the position.
"Ken Colbung is well known and respected throughout the State and his wide-ranging experience in cross cultural communication will be a major benefit for any initiatives or reforms being developed by the council," Mr Wiese said.
The Minister said the role of the council was to advise the Minister and the Commissioner of Police on the most effective measures for improving relations between Aboriginal people, members of the Western Australian Police Service and the general community.
Mr Wiese said Mrs Lorraine Whitby, a councillor with the Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islanders Commission, had also been appointed to the council.
Mrs Whitby is also an elected member of the Aboriginal Legal Service Executive Committee and has previously worked as a family support officer.
Mr Wiese recently announced the council's chairperson would be Mrs Pamela Walsh, JP, who has been appointed to the position for a period of 12 months.
Other members on the council will include representatives from the Police Service, Aboriginal Affairs Department, Aboriginal Legal Service, Western Australian Municipal Association and the Community Policing and Crime Prevention Council.
"Those people on the council have a proven track record in community liaison and I am confident the new council will make a major impact on promoting mutual understanding and respect between police, Aboriginal people and the community," Mr Wiese said.
Media contact: Mark Thompson 222 9595
