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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 13 Hansard (5 December) . . Page.. 4471 ..

MRS CARNELL (continuing):

In addition, agencies have a range of mechanisms to consult with Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders on issues such as policing, education, sport, culture and heritage. An interagency indigenous issues group has been established to promote and monitor Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policy and service delivery issues across government.

Mr Speaker, one of the most important indigenous policy developments this year has been the signing of the historic agreement on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. This agreement provides the framework for the provision of health services for indigenous people in the ACT and the surrounding region. It will also lead to the development of a regional health plan. An identified Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander position has been created in the Department of Health and Community Care to assist in the development of the plan. An ACT forum has been established under the agreement, involving the department, the Commonwealth Department of Health and Family Services, ATSIC, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Consultative Council and the Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service in the ACT. The membership will ensure continued participation by Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders in decision-making.

A project to identify the mental health needs of the indigenous was conducted by an indigenous research consultant. The final report is expected to be released shortly and the development of services is expected to reflect the recommendations of the report. The Government will continue to support the important work of the community-controlled Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service here in Canberra. This service is used by most members of the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and really is a model, Mr Speaker, for the rest of Australia. There has been continued improvement of access to mainstream services such as dentistry, immunisation and breast screening. The Alcohol and Drug Service continues to have close links with Winnunga Nimmityjah. The Canberra Hospital Aboriginal liaison officer shares case management with Winnunga Nimmityjah whenever appropriate.

Mr Speaker, I now want to turn to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission's national inquiry into the separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families. The Government provided an interim submission to the inquiry and a team of officials appeared before the inquiry to give evidence. The Government also provided follow-up information as requested by the commission. As ACT self-government came well after the period of forced separation policies, the Government's interim submission outlined our current responsibilities and provided information that might help local Aboriginal people trace their families. In addition, the Government waived fees and charges for access to ACT records for people affected by separation who wished to trace links with their families or communities. The Government also responded to the advice from the consultative council and implemented the council's service delivery recommendations.

Turning to law and justice matters, during 1995-96 an average of 3.3 per cent of the total ACT prisoner population was identified as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. Of the 991 people on community-based orders under the supervision of ACT Community Services at June 1996, 6.7 per cent identified themselves as of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. The 1991 census statistics remain the basis

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