Dr Tony Buti might be the most accomplished member of the Western Australian parliament. He's studied at the University of Western Australia, the Australian National University, Oxford, and Yale. He literally has more post-nominal letters after his name than his name itself (BPE DipEd MIR LLB DPhil MLA).

However it is not his academic achievements that brought so much promise to the community when he was appointed Western Australia's 23rd Minister for Aboriginal Affairs it is his almost lifelong commitment to helping Indigenous people.

At one point before entering Parliament, Tony was a solicitor for the Aboriginal Legal Service, where the 1996 directory lists his specialisation as human rights. In and out of the ALS he's published numerous submissions and books about the separation of Indigenous children from their families. He's spoken so many times in Parliament about issues that impact Aboriginal people.

You can get why so many believed so much in Tony Buti when he was promoted to Minister of Aboriginal Affairs. A position that has existed since 1947 and now serves as a bridge between Aboriginal communities and the government.

Yet since his elevation in December 2021, the Minister frankly has not lived up to his potential and importantly, the expectations of the community:

- Banksia Hill Detention Centre and the continued over-incarceration of Aboriginal kids

- The detention of Indigenous & non-Indigenous children in an adult prison

- The hottest prison in regional WA going without air-conditioning for at least two more wet seasons

- Roebourne community becoming the COVID epicenter with hundreds of positive cases

- Youth crime out of control in the north-west

The pseudo-return to the exclusion of Indigenous people from Perth's city centre with the 'Protected Entertainment Precincts' legislation

The ever-persistent issue of Indigenous youth suicide and still yet to be implemented Coroner's recommendations from years ago

We can add his absence following the destruction of Fitzroy Valley; a community that is over 80% Aboriginal.

Following WA's worst-ever floods, National Indigenous Times has been contacted by several prominent Indigenous leaders asking where their Minister is. It's been raised by the Liberal opposition and Kimberley resident Neil Thomson that his absence has been akin to "abandonment".

When asked where the Minister was, a WA government spokesperson reminded us that there is a large amount of work underway (those who appreciate Cold War history will enjoy the Premier's description of it as a "mini Berlin Airlift").

"There have been multiple visits from the Minister for Emergency Services, including when he was accompanied by Premier Mark McGowan, Prime Minister Antony Albanese, Federal Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt and Special Envoy for Reconciliation Senator Pat Dodson," the spokesperson said.

All this is true and worthy of recognition but wasn't there room for Tony Buti on that iconic bridge shot? Couldn't the squadron of heavy-lifting C130s Hercules find space for him?

Where is Tony Buti? The question is relevant for both this emergency and the entirety of 2022.

Those Indigenous leaders who contacted National Indigenous Times have expressed an overwhelming desire to see their Minister in this time of peril. They yearn for his leadership and direction.

More than that, don't we all deserve to see him on every one of those other issues which have impacted the Aboriginal community this past year?

Dr Buti spoke up loudly and prominently with such impressive conviction before becoming a Minister. Yet he's missing as Minister so much that it seems he's donned the red and white colours of his favourite WAFL team South Freo and become the real-life Where's Wally.

It would be funny if it wasn't so serious.

Zak Kirkup is of Yamatji heritage and is the former leader of the WA Liberal Party