(1) How many remote Aboriginal communities (with over 50 residents) in Western Australia: (a) receive a postal service to the community, either by road or air; and (b) do not receive a postal service and are therefore required to travel to another community or town to collect their mail.

(2) Can a list be provided of each of the communities in (1)(b) and to where residents must travel to collect their mail.

Based on advice received from Australia Post:

(1) Based on the most recent information available from ATSIC, Australia Post has advised that there are (a) 14 Aboriginal communities more than 10 kilometers from the nearest town in Western Australia that receive a delivery service to the community and (b) 23 such Aboriginal communities whose residents are required to travel to another town to collect their mail.

(2) The following table lists the names of the communities more than 10 kilometers from the nearest town that do not receive a delivery service and the towns to which residents travel to collect their mail.

Australia Post advises that it has consulted with these communities at various times in recent years to ascertain whether they were satisfied with their current delivery arrangements. The community leaders confirmed on these occasions that no change was required as the existing delivery arrangements were adequately meeting the needs of their respective communities.