Page 2773 - Week 09 - Thursday, 27 September 2007
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• that more be done to record and maintain indigenous languages and transitional ethno-biological knowledge;
• that the health benefits for indigenous people of living and working on homeland country be recognised;
• that the national water initiative, including property rights and trading in water, be evaluated in terms of participation by indigenous peoples and the incorporation of indigenous knowledge;
• that nationally accepted standards and guidelines concerning indigenous Australians’ interests in water be developed;
• that local governments do much more to engage with local indigenous communities;
• that more resources be injected into a wide range of education and training opportunities; and
• that all staff and funding recipients of projects with indigenous communities be required to undergo cross-cultural awareness training.
Delegates spent a field trip day touring the Darwin waterfront development site, also the Ludawei Windows on the Wetland Visitor Centre and the Crocodylus Park Wildlife Research and Education Centre. Conference presentations on the third morning focused on the future development of Darwin.
Beyond the themed conference presentations, each jurisdiction also presented a report on their current or completed inquiries. A significant amount of challenging work has been done in state and territory parliamentary committees over the past year or is underway. Members of parliament and committee staff also exchanged other information of interest.
The conference was very well organised, with extraordinary care taken to respond to the diverse needs and interests of delegates. On behalf of the committee, I extend our sincere appreciation to our most generous and hospitable hosts in Darwin, including the chair of the Northern Territory Sessional Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, Mr Ted Warren MLA, and parliamentary committee staff Ms Maria Viegas, Mr Terry Hanley and Ms Joanna Burgess, and also the Larrakia people.
These annual conferences provide an invaluable learning and networking opportunity for parliamentary public works and environment committees, and the committee looks forward to the conference next year in Sydney. In closing, I would like to thank my committee colleague Ms Mary Porter for her assistance and Dr Hanna Jaireth for her hard work over this conference.
Sitting suspended from 12.28 to 2.30 pm.
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