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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 10 Hansard (Thursday, 26 August 2004) . . Page.. 4364 ..

We have also started a dual naming process where, if possible, we include the original Aboriginal name for geographical features of areas in the ACT, alongside the names given to them by earlier settlers. As opportunities arise, for instance, when we open a new feature, such as the new nature park in the Gungahlin district, we will use relevant Aboriginal names. For example, we named the new Gungahlin Nature Park “Goorooyaroo” and, in so doing, we have restored the original Aboriginal name for that area. We have put in place structures to ensure the involvement of local Aboriginal people in the management of Namadgi National Park. The agreement provides a framework for the negotiation of a more comprehensive arrangement in the future.

It is the territory’s intention to put in place a symbolic Namadgi special Aboriginal lease to acknowledge the historic association of the Aboriginal parties to the region. Since last month, as a constant reminder of our commitment to reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous people, the Aboriginal, the Torres Strait Islander, ACT and Australian flags are flown side by side on London Circuit, outside this building. These are symbols of a more cohesive society and, importantly, a constant reminder of our commitment to reconciliation.

As I have said, engaging and communicating with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in Canberra is the only way we can truly hope to address disadvantage and achieve reconciliation. To ensure a strong flow of information to Canberra’s indigenous community, a Ngunnawal newsletter is widely distributed on a quarterly basis. Other key publications have also been produced this year, including the ACT directory of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander resources, a 2004 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander diary and a 2004 calendar that identifies the dates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander events of significance.

I will now report on what the government has been doing in the ACT to develop a new reporting arrangement to comply with the national framework for overcoming indigenous disadvantage and improving service delivery to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The major components of the new reporting arrangement will be the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partnership plan. This is a key commitment of “Building our community—the Canberra social plan” that we are presently developing. The partnership plan will be an integrated series of measures to address and report on indigenous outcomes in the ACT and will report against key indicators identified by COAG in a national framework. It will focus on strategic areas for action such as early childhood development, school attendance, teenage development, reducing abuse, supporting families and health and economic opportunities.

The 2004-05 budget delivers the broadest range of new initiatives for the ACT’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community since the beginning of self-government. The budget demonstrated the government’s ongoing determination in consultation with the community to develop and fund innovative and effective programs to support indigenous people in the ACT. The injection of $7.7 million over the next four years is specifically aimed at tackling the ongoing issues to reduce the level of indigenous disadvantaged in the community.

We will provide $685,000 towards indigenous employment opportunities by establishing indigenous traineeships within Environment ACT, $868,000 to expand Koori pre-school

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