Page 3036 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 10 September 1991
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Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders
MR DUBY: Mr Speaker, my question is also to the Chief Minister, in her capacity as Minister for Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders. I welcome that addition to her titles, which I believe is a new official addition since her second Government, particularly after we had Aboriginal Week last week. I was hoping that she could provide some information on some aspects of her portfolio. I would like to know how many persons of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent there are in the Territory, approximately, and what consultation has occurred with the community on what that community perceives to be the special needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the Territory.
MS FOLLETT: I thank Mr Duby for the question. I would be happy to provide details about numbers and so on. I will take that on notice, if that is all right with Mr Duby. It is a fact that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders do come within my portfolio. They have been brought in generally within the social justice purview of that portfolio.
Mr Duby has asked what consultation has been taking place. There has been consultation taking place, of course. Most particularly, I have been corresponding with the Federal Minister on issues where a joint government approach is the most appropriate. One consultation mechanism that has been used is the Bogong Council - I believe that is what it is called - which represents the Aboriginal people of the region rather than just the ACT. There is a need there to separate some of the ACT issues.
Mr Kaine: Have you actually spoken to them?
MS FOLLETT: Mr Kaine asks whether I have spoken to them myself. No, I have not, in the period since I have been in government. I would be delighted to do so.
MR DUBY: Mr Speaker, I have a supplementary question. I must admit that I am flabbergasted to hear the appropriate, responsible Minister say that she does not know the number of Aboriginals and islanders in the community, and also admit that she has not, since becoming that Minister, had any consultation with the community. Last week was National Aboriginal Week and last Tuesday, in the square outside here I noticed that the Aboriginal flag - a very good design - was flying upside down. We acknowledge that that is a universal sign of distress. I was wondering whether that was an indication of her handling of her portfolio, or perhaps a premonition of the ACT Government's action late last week in denying access to facilities to the Aboriginal embassy at the lakeside.
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