Politics · Australia · 12 hrs ago
WA opposition plans petition calling for Aboriginal affairs minister to resign
WA opposition leader Basil Zempilas plans to petition for Don Punch’s resignation over the child protection crisis in the state’s north.
Punch is Western Australia’s Aboriginal Affairs Minister and has faced criticism for not visiting elders in Port Hedland and South Hedland during a nine-week emergency.
The pressure follows reports that up to 15 children were staying without adult supervision at a home in South Hedland, while the Department of Communities had known of problems there for months.
Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti called the petition a political stunt, saying the issue is serious and complex.
She said the government’s priority is supporting children in the region, including through more safe night spaces and on-the-ground help.
Punch says he plans to visit the Pilbara, and Zempilas says the petition will go live on the parliamentary website this week and be tabled at a suitable time.
WA Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas says he will file a parliamentary petition calling for Aboriginal Affairs Minister Don Punch to resign.
Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti called the petition a political stunt and said the child protection crisis was a serious issue.
Punch faces criticism over his response to a nine-week child welfare emergency in the state’s north and his time at parliament.
Zempilas said the petition would give Western Australians a way to send a message to Premier Roger Cook.
Punch has said he plans to visit the Pilbara region.
- Who
- WA Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas is calling for Aboriginal Affairs Minister Don Punch to resign. Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti has criticised the petition.
- What
- Zempilas plans to file a parliamentary petition calling on Punch to step down.
- When
- Zempilas said on Sunday, November 8, 2026, that he would file it this week.
- Where
- Western Australia, including the state’s north and the Pilbara region.
- Why
- Punch faces pressure over alleged inaction during a child welfare emergency and the time he spent at parliament.
Basil Zempilas and the WA opposition
Rita Saffioti and the WA government
Petition
Basil Zempilas and the WA opposition
Zempilas says the petition will let Western Australians send a strong message that Punch should resign.
Rita Saffioti and the WA government
Saffioti calls the petition a political stunt and says the issue is serious.
Response to child welfare crisis
Basil Zempilas and the WA opposition
Zempilas says Punch should quit and that Premier Roger Cook should sack him if he does not.
Rita Saffioti and the WA government
Saffioti says the government is taking the complex issue seriously and is focused on supporting children in the region.
Reports revealed that up to 15 children were at times staying at a South Hedland house without adult supervision.
Zempilas said he would file a parliamentary petition calling for Punch to step down.
Zempilas said the petition was set to go live on the parliamentary website.
Zempilas said the opposition would decide when to table the petition, with only a couple of weeks of parliament remaining.
- Petition organiser
- Basil Zempilas, WA opposition leader
- Minister targeted
- Don Punch, Aboriginal Affairs Minister
- Planned launch
- This week, on the parliamentary website
- Children at South Hedland house
- Up to 15 at times
- Period department knew of issues
- Up to nine months
What people are saying
It’s a bit of a stunt. Basil Zempilas is treating it like a game show. This isn’t a game show. This is a serious issue.
Our number one aim is supporting the children in the region. That’s why we’re looking at extending and supporting more safe night spaces and seeing what else we can do to provide on the ground support for kids.
It is time for Don Punch to go.
We go into this with the express purpose of giving the thousands of West Australians who continue to contact us, the community in South Hedland, and all other forms where they can communicate their displeasure.