Page 717 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 26 February 2013
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
example of citizen-centric government and was signed by the Attorney-General and the chair of the elected body on 28 September 2010.
The elected body continues to challenge the ACT government to continually evaluate and improve our service provision. After the last elected body election, which concluded on 18 May 2011, feedback was received from stakeholders, including the elected body itself, 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 elected body met with ministers on 2 August 2011 and discussed amendments to the act. These amendments, recommended to us by the very people the act serves, include an increase in the campaign period available for nominees for positions on the elected body. Elected body members stated that they wanted an opportunity to fully engage with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities during the campaign period in the ACT so that they could share their message about why they should be elected but also be able to listen to the message of the community about what matters most to them. That, as I think all members in this place would agree, is the essence of what true community representation is.
Members of the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities also suggested the elected body elections could be moved to capitalise on NAIDOC Week celebrations each year. It was suggested that, as NAIDOC Week is a time when the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples come together to celebrate their cultures and recognise the contribution of Indigenous Australians in various fields, it would be a good opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to also think about who would best represent them and promote the issues that affect them. It was also recognised that capitalising on NAIDOC Week would be an efficient way of promoting the elected body, the elections and, in fact, NAIDOC Week itself, as well as more effectively reaching the target community and building sustained community engagement.
Elections ACT also made some technical recommendations on the effectiveness of the election process which further supported the recommendations we received from the elected body and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Elections ACT suggested that the increase of the campaign period for candidates would build engagement for the elections by allowing candidates more time to access the community and reach eligible electors who may otherwise not be exposed to the elections through existing communications channels. This same rationale also supported the move to coincide with having the elections in NAIDOC Week.
Elections ACT also made a number of technical amendments that will bring clarity and consistency to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body Act 2008. The clarification of definitions and finetuning of terminology has been recommended to ensure that the act displays continual growth and relevance to the ACT context and the communities it serves. These proposed changes recognise the expertise of our elected body and of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and also reflect the growth and improvement in the legislation that is designed to help communities to progress towards achievement and success. Under the changes
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video