Page 2372 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 12 August 2014
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
In my discussions with the elected body, I have said to them that what we want in that is a clear articulation of what the community wants the government to do. I have encouraged them to frame it in a way that means the government can be held to account readily on whether we meet those objectives or not. They will come forward with what they see fit, but that is the view that I have put to them. It is saying that we do not want to end up with a massive long list of all the things we should try and achieve but should perhaps focus on those things that can be achieved in a two, three or four-year time frame—focus on making sure we deliver those things.
The elected body have a whole range of other tasks and opportunities through their direct contact with the directorates on a regular basis, through the annual estimates-style hearings that they hold with the directorates, and through the meetings that I regularly have with them and their general advocacy in the community.
Both the United Ngunnawal Elders Council and the elected body continue to play an important advisory and advocacy role for local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the community. I thank them for their ongoing efforts. It is all done on a voluntary basis, but their contribution to their community is invaluable.
I noted Mr Wall’s comments on the voter turnout for the election. This is a question to reflect on. I was pleased that the voter turnout was higher than the last election—substantially higher. We saw some very excellent contributions, particularly from Indigenous detainees at the AMC, who contributed around 10 per cent of the overall voter contribution. More than two-thirds of those eligible to vote at the AMC did vote. When I was out at the AMC for NAIDOC Week celebrations, I remarked to the Indigenous detainees that I really congratulated them on their engagement with the election process. The vote was up. I would particularly like to thank the staff from the Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs for their considerable effort, in partnership with Elections ACT, in getting out there and encouraging people to vote.
That said, I would like to see more people voting as well. I think it sits at the feet of the elected body to some extent to ensure that the community sees value. I think the community is starting to see that value. I see the elected body being on an upwards swing in the sense that there was real competition for the places on the elected body this time. We had a strong field of candidates and the seats were hotly contested. The better the job the elected body does, the more the community will engage. Certainly they have my undertaking that the government takes their role and their contributions very seriously, and I trust the broader community will start to see that.
There are a range of other things going on, programs and projects that the government is delivering in support of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community here in the ACT. They sit across a range of directorates. My role as the minister responsible for the community is to try and see coherent patterns across government, to play that advocate role and to make sure the interests are being taken into account.
I take this opportunity to touch on the future of Gugan Gulwan, an issue Mr Wall also raised in this remarks. Formerly, in my role as Minister for Housing, I was actively working with the organisation to find new premises. As I have updated the Assembly
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video