Page 1898 - Week 05 - Thursday, 3 May 2012
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The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body Act 2008 is watershed legislation, not only for the ACT but for the rest of Australia. It was the important next step following our apology to Indigenous people in the ACT in the ongoing journey of reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.
In the four years since the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body has been in existence, the elected body has achieved a number of significant milestones. The elected body was a major stakeholder and driving force in the creation of the ACT employment strategy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, which was launched in 2011. This was part of the ACT government’s commitment to provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with the opportunity to participate fully in the ACT community through economic freedom. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body also championed the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander justice agreement, a landmark example of citizen-centric government which was signed by the Attorney-General and the chair of the elected body on 28 September 2010.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body continues to well represent the interests of its communities to ACT government.
Following the last Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body election, held between 11 April 2011 and 18 May 2011, the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs received feedback from stakeholders which included recommendations for the growth and improvement of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body Act 2008 and the election process itself. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body met with ministers on 2 August 2011 and discussed amendments to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body Act 2008. These amendments recommended an increase in the campaign period available for nominees for positions on the elected body. Elected body members stated they wanted an opportunity to more fully engage with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities during the campaign period in the ACT so they could share their message about why they should be elected but also listen to the message of community members on matters most important to them. We can all agree that this is the essence of what true community representation is.
Members of the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities suggested that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body elections could be moved to capitalise on NAIDOC Week. It was suggested that as NAIDOC Week is a time when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples come together to celebrate their culture and recognise the contributions of Indigenous Australians in various fields, it would be a good and fitting opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to think about who would best represent them and promote the issues which affect them. It was also recognised that capitalising on NAIDOC Week would be an efficient way of expending funding and resources used to promote the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body, the elections and NAIDOC Week as well as more effectively reaching the target community and building sustained community engagement.
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