Page 4368 - Week 12 - Thursday, 24 October 2019
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The ACT government is now working through these recommendations. The chair of the elected body, Ms Katrina Fanning, has acknowledged in the report that progress has been made in a number of areas, which include the reopening of Boomanulla Oval for community use; finalisation of the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander procurement policy to include business and human services contract deliverables; the finalised design and development work on stage 2 and site selection and initial designs for stage 3 of the older persons housing project; continued commitment to the Our Booris, Our Way review and its recommendations; a review of the Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm; and a focus on increasing the cultural competence of staff across the ACT public service. This is in addition to the signing of the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander agreement 2019-28 just a few weeks before the hearings. The agreement, and the government, recognises that more needs to be done.
I thank the elected body for its ongoing commitment to working with the ACT government to progress many actions identified in focus area action plans under the agreement. The agreement’s action plans provide measurable objectives and realistic targets to achieve equitable life outcomes for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Canberrans. I have no doubt that progress against the agreement and its action plans will be the subject of much discussion at the next elected body hearings. Following next year’s elected body elections, we will then begin working through the next phase of the action plans.
Another important part of the elected body’s work is its facilitation of community conversations and engagement with the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. The outcomes from these conversations provide continued guidance to the ACT government as we implement the agreement. Elected body led conversations are now underway on the closing the gap refresh, to get community feedback on the priority reform areas being proposed, such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led decision-making, growth of the community-controlled sector, and improving mainstream services’ ability to deliver appropriate responses for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The elected body held one forum on 17 October 2019, with another scheduled for 28 October 2019. The elected body continues to provide a strong voice for the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. On behalf of the government, I thank its members for their tireless work and ongoing commitment to their community.
A whole-of-government response to the recommendations of the elected body’s ninth report will be prepared and tabled in accordance with the provisions of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body Act 2008. I look forward to continuing the government’s positive and productive engagement with the elected body. I greatly appreciate the advice I receive on addressing the needs of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
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