Funding relief for Indigenous communities
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Two Kimberley Aboriginal communities say months of uncertainty has come to an end after the Commonwealth agreed to hand over thousands of dollars in municipal services funding.
The Department for Indigenous Affairs has released six months worth of funding to the Dampier Peninsula communities of Djarindjin and Lombadina.
The funds were frozen after auditors alleged the communities' record keeping was inadequate.
Djarindjin Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Andy McGaw says the department also committed to providing funds for the first half of next year under more stringent conditions.
"It is a different mechanism and it does involve a lot of red tape, but the conditions that have come with this and at this point in time we're not in a position to say we won't accept that," he said.
"So I guess we're very thankful that the money's been made available and I guess it keeps the wolf from the door."
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