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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 13 Hansard (2 December) . . Page.. 4313 ..

MRS CARNELL (continuing):

that Ashton Raggatt McDougall had been selected as the architect for the centre, and of course for the museum as well, and the project is now full steam ahead. While the emphasis is placed on contemporary indigenous cultures, the underlying philosophy behind the centre is to build a place for all people to visit to learn about and experience indigenous cultures as presented by indigenous people themselves.

The business elements of the cultural centre will provide a range of employment and training opportunities for indigenous people, including retail and hospitality. The indigenous community will be encouraged to use the centre as a space for cultural expression through either the visual or the dramatic arts. These programs will be open to the general public. An Indigenous Design and Construction Working Group advised the Government on the development of the functional brief for the centre. The centre will continue to be developed through extensive consultation with the ACT indigenous community. ArtsACT has managed the design and development of the centre and will continue to manage the project through to its construction. Madam Deputy Speaker, I would like to thank the Canberra Theatre Trust for their continuing support for the work of indigenous performing artists during 1996-97.

NAIDOC Week continues to be a focus for all Canberrans on indigenous cultures. There were many activities across the ACT this year, including those organised by government agencies. The flying of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags on Canberra's main thoroughfares and the large Aboriginal flag on City Hill was a colourful reminder to the city of NAIDOC Week. I participated in the ceremony to open NAIDOC Week at the Boomanulla Oval and a number of other functions, as I know did other members of the Assembly.

ACTEW held its annual flag raising ceremony and it also organised a free barbecue, sports auction and kidsfest with children's entertainment such as a jumping castle, an Aboriginal face painter, boomerang throwing and lots of other things. The Canberra Hospital launched the opening of the Aboriginal residential facility with a barbecue. The Belconnen Remand Centre was presented with a kit of indigenous culture books and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags at a special NAIDOC function. A barbecue was held for detainees, with entertainment from a local indigenous dance group. Artwork painted by an indigenous detainee was purchased by the ACT NAIDOC committee and presented to the centre for permanent exhibition.

ACT Heritage has instigated a study of Aboriginal heritage in the ACT. It is anticipated that the local Aboriginal people will assist in the direction of this project and play a leading role in its implementation. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will participate in Australia's first National Multicultural Festival to be held in January 1998. The four-week program is designed to celebrate Australia's rich diversity and showcase indigenous culture featuring many faces of Aboriginal and multicultural Australia. The inaugural National Indigenous Fashion Awards will be launched during the festival.

I turn now to the ACT's native title claims. Members are aware that the ACT Government is in the preliminary stages of negotiating a regional agreement with the Ngunnawal people in relation to their native title claims in the ACT. The Government's commitment to settlement of the native title issue is not dependent on a successful claim through the National Native Title Tribunal. The Government has indicated a desire

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