Page 1066 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 6 May 2014
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MR RATTENBURY (Molonglo—Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Housing, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs and Minister for Ageing) (12.02), in reply: I thank Mr Wall for his support of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body Amendment Bill 2014. This amendment is the fine-tuning of an important piece of legislation—the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body Act 2008—which established the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body, a unique development in the history of government and community relations in Australia.
Elections for this significant representative group are held every three years. This year will see the third round of elections, and the proposed amendments will improve on previous amendments to increase community engagement in the voting process. Since 2008 the elected body has been a strong voice for the community as it advocates for the rights, goals and aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Canberrans, ensuring greater interaction between government and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
The elected body continues to play a major role in government decision-making and in the development and implementation of government policies affecting the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. Since 2008 the elected body has pursued an ambitious agenda, exceeding the legislated requirement for their operation, to consult with the community and advise government on policies and programs that will enhance the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the territory. For example, under their legislation the elected body is required to hold two community forums each year. Year on year the elected body has gone to the community to hear their views far more frequently across a range of concerns.
Over the 2012-13 financial year the elected body held five community forums and provided advice on a number of government policies. In the current financial year the elected body has already conducted five community forums covering matters such as the renewal of the Aboriginal justice agreement, working with community organisations, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body community plan, sport and recreation and the proposed whole-of-government agreement. Importantly, the outgoing elected bodies, together with the ACT Electoral Commission will hold a final community forum on 14 May to advise the community about the election dates and the nomination and election processes.
Following the 2011 elections, recognising that the legislation needs to evolve with the community, the elected body was instrumental in bringing about amendments in 2012 to the elected body act which improved the way their elections were run. In line with the elected body’s recommendations, last year amendments were passed by the Assembly to ensure that elected body candidates were given the best opportunity to fully engage with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities during their campaign period and that voting arrangements were optimal for the community. The wider ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community supported these amendments having made their views known during community consultations conducted by the Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs and the elected body.
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