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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 1 Hansard (17 February) . . Page.. 285 ..

the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from their families.

The ACT Government responded formally to the recommendations contained in the Bringing them home Report for the first time in 1998.

This response outlined:

proposed Government initiatives to support families and assist in the healing process;

individual responses to the 54 recommendations of the Report; and

key measures already implemented along with relevant policies and practices.

As recommended by the Ministerial Council on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, the 1998-99 Report covers a financial year, and takes a thematic approach under the following headings:

Bringing them home - the journey so far: This sets out the background to this Report and summarises the ACT Government's response to the Bringing them home recommendations and implementation to the end of June 1998. It also describes recent developments in implementation arrangements.

Helping the Healing - the journey continues: describes new implementation activities and progress over the reporting year (July 1998 to June 1999) in the areas of commemoration, restitution and rehabilitation.

Looking to the Future - guarantees against repetition: describes progress during the reporting year on community information, professional training and self-determination issues.

Mr Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the work of the Canberra Journey of Healing Network, formerly the Canberra Sorry Day Network. The Network, through its Implementation Task Force, has provided valuable community feedback on implementation issues.

Mr Speaker, the Government has once again honoured its commitments, and has made some very significant achievements, including:

The appointment of the Australian Federal Police (ACT Region) first Aboriginal Community Liaison Officer in August 1998. The Australian Federal Police have also developed an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Career Development and Recruitment Strategy.

The release of a public discussion paper in April 1999 entitled ACT Archives Project-Issues and Options Paper. Twenty responses were received, including one from the Canberra Journey of Healing Network, which had previously formed its own Records Task Force.

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