Page 2286 - Week 07 - Thursday, 16 June 1994

In its response, the ACT Government expressed its support for the recommendations and

outlined what actions it would take to implement each of the 339 recommendations. The

recommendations address issues of empowering Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait

Islanders: policing; custodial facilities and procedures; legislative reform; health; housing;

and education. Consequently, the Government's response to the recommendations forms

the major policy statement for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs in the ACT for

the 1990s.

The Commission recommended that Commonwealth, State and Territory governments

agree upon a process for reporting on the implementation of the recommendations

accepted by governments. On 22 October 1993, the Australian Aboriginal Affairs

Council (AAAC) agreed that each jurisdiction would produce a coordinated annual

report on their implementation of the Commission's recommendations.

The document being tabled today is the ACT's first implementation progress report. ACT

Government agencies are also reporting on the implementation of the Commission's

recommendations in their Annual Reports.

I am pleased to be able to say that the ACT Government has made substantial progress

towards implementing its commitments in response to the Royal Commission, thereby

demonstrating the Government's continuing commitment to improving the economic, social

and political conditions of Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders.

The International Year of the World's Indigenous People has provided the Government

with the opportunity to commence a number of initiatives and to raise the public profile of

Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders and related issues.

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