Supporting Aboriginal culture and the arts in the Kimberley

• Re-elected WA Labor Government to provide funding towards Aboriginal cultural centre in Broome
• $500,000 allocated for a Project Definition Plan for the Janyba Centre for Culture, Arts and Story
• Facility has the potential to deliver significant socioeconomic benefits to the region and local Aboriginal people

A re-elected Cook Labor Government will provide support for a new Aboriginal cultural centre in Brome, which has the potential to deliver significant socioeconomic benefits to the region and local Aboriginal people.

WA Labor will commit $500,000 for a Project Definition Plan for the Janyba Centre for Culture, Arts and Story.

Plans for the centre include an exhibition facility to showcase Kimberley culture and art, provide opportunities for local artists, promote understanding of Kimberley history and facilitate reconciliation.

Tourism represents a significant opportunity for Aboriginal people to secure sustainable economic, social and job outcomes.

In 2023-24, almost nine in ten visitors, or 87 per cent, said they would be interested in an Aboriginal tourism, experience or activity if it was easily accessible in WA.

Additionally, more than one third (36 per cent) said they participated in an Aboriginal tourism experience, reflecting the highest proportion recorded since tracking began in 2012-13.

Nearly $64 million was also contributed to the Gross State Product in 2021-22 by Aboriginal tourism businesses, which supported 516 full time jobs.

Comments attributed to WA Labor Minister Stephen Dawson:

“We know there’s huge demand for authentic Aboriginal tourism experiences and there's definitely opportunity for further growth in this area.

“Projects like the Janyba Centre will enable visitors to experience the unique Aboriginal culture in a personal, authentic setting, while creating employment and training opportunities for local Aboriginal communities.

“This Centre will build on incredible existing cultural tourism experiences we have across the State, including the Camping with Custodians offering – an Australian-first initiative which is now up to seven sites.”

Comments attributed to Kimberley MLA Divina D’Anna:

“The creation of the Janyba Centre would be a huge step in bringing the Broome community together with visitors to share their stories, art and culture.

“It has the potential for strengthening diversity, truth telling, knowledge transfer and a stepping stone to the rest of the Kimberley.

“It would be an important and valuable way for tourists to understand and learn more about the world's oldest living continuous culture, and importantly, generate income, employment and training opportunities for locals.”