The National Representative Body
On 22 November 2009, the Australian Government announced the establishment of a national representative body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to be known as the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples. The body will play a key role in the Government’s commitment to resetting the relationship with Indigenous peoples and developing genuine partnerships to Close the Gap on life expectancy and opportunities.
The model, developed after 12 months of consultation and recommended by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Tom Calma and the Indigenous Steering Committee has been supported by the Government.
The Government has announced funding of $29.2 million for the new representative body to provide appropriate support during its very important establishment phase and the early years of its operation.
Processes necessary for the establishment of the representative body will begin immediately and continue throughout 2010 with a fully operational body expected to be in place by January 2011. The representative body will set a high benchmark for strong, responsible and strategic leadership and will support gender equality, youth leadership and uphold the highest ethical principles for public office holders.
The establishment of this body underpins the Government’s commitment to resetting the relationship with Indigenous peoples. It provides a voice for Indigenous peoples, the opportunity for partnership and the genuine engagement necessary if there is to be progress in closing the gap in life outcomes and opportunity.
The purpose and role of the body:
- formulating policy and advice – to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people contribute to and play a lead role in policy and program development on issues that affect them and that an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspective is provided on issues across government;
- advocacy and lobbying – to act as a national conduit for communication between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the government, corporate and non-government sectors; and
- ensuring the presence of, and contributing to, mechanisms to monitor and evaluate government performance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
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The Representative Body Model
Mr Tom Calma and the Indigenous Steering Committee presented their Report “Our Future in Our Hands” to the Government on 27 August 2009. After consideration of the recommendations in the Report the Government has supported the proposed model.
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Government Commitment
In 2007 the Australian Government committed to establishing a national representative body to give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people a voice in national affairs.
The Government stated its intention to rebuild the relationship with Indigenous Australians and in doing so, involving Indigenous communities in decisions which affect them, to enable a collaborative approach to improving outcomes for Indigenous Australians.
The Government has committed to closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous life outcomes. The Government has set national targets across six areas, including closing the life expectancy gap within a generation. These challenging targets mean that it is critical that Indigenous Australians are involved in developing policies and programs to improve their lives and that their views are represented to Government through credible mechanisms.
The Government consulted widely with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to gain their views on a preferred model for a national representative body.
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Government's Broad Principles
There are many lessons that can be learnt from past Indigenous representative bodies both here and overseas. The Government communicated some broad principles for this body which have been considered and incorporated into the new body.
- The Government will not create another ATSIC.
- There will not necessarily be separate elections for the body.
- The body will have urban, regional and remote representation.
- The body will not have a service delivery role.
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What's Happened Over the Past Twelve Months?
First Phase of Consultation
The first round of community consultations that took place between July and December 2008, involved face-to-face consultation meetings across Australia and a written submission process.
Consultations included:
- 17 regional consultations around Australia between 29 July and 1 September 2008.
- A comprehensive mailout to Indigenous organisations informing them about the consultation process and inviting submissions.
- A process for people to lodge written submissions by 19 September 2008.
- Community workshops/consultations facilitated by Indigenous Coordination Centres and FaHCSIA State Office staff.
- Consultations with peak Indigenous organisations.
- Consultations with State and Territory Governments.
Summary report on the first round of consultations
Second Phase of Consultation
The initial public consultation process to establish a National Indigenous Representative Body began in July 2008 and included 80 public meetings in each state and territory and received more than 100 submissions.
The consultations were extended due to requests during the initial consultations for more time for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to consider what form the National Indigenous Representative Body might take.
The second stage of the process for establishing the body was led by Indigenous Australians. In December 2008, the Government requested the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Mr Tom Calma to convene an independent Indigenous steering committee to oversee the process.
An overview of the activities conducted during the second phase of consultation is provided at:
This expanded process built on the first round of consultations, which demonstrated the widespread support for a sustainable new body.
The Steering Committee
Mr Calma invited a number of individuals to participate on the Steering Committee. Each person was selected to be on the Committee in an individual capacity and for their experience and knowledge of national representative body mechanisms. The Committee membership reflects geographic representation, gender and age.
The following individuals have agreed to participate on the Steering Committee. To view Biographies of members of the Steering Committee:
- Mr Mark Bin Bakar;
- Ms Tanya Hosch;
- Mr Geoff Scott;
- Dr Jackie Huggins AM;
- Mr Tim Goodwin;
- Ms Yananymul Mununggurr;
- Mr Jason Glanville;
- Ms Rosalie Kunoth-Monks;
- Mr John Toshi Kris; and
- Ms Nala Mansell-McKenna.
Professor Mick Dodson participated on the Steering Committee in an advisory capacity.
National Workshop of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples 11 - 13 March 2009
In order that the Government received a broad range of input on a National Indigenous Representative Body, it asked the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Mr Tom Calma to convene a Workshop of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The Workshop took place from 11-13 March 2009
The Steering Committee selected approximately 100 leaders from across Australia to participate in the Workshop with people invited to apply through a public nomination process.
Successful nominations are listed on the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission website.
The purpose of the workshop was to:
- Review submissions and the outcomes of consultations conducted by the Government to date, on the establishment of a new representative body,
- Identify the key elements or features for a new National Indigenous Representative Body which can then be distilled down to a series of preferred models for a new representative body, and
- Identify a process for further consultation with Indigenous communities leading to the establishment of interim arrangements until the finalised body takes effect.
The workshop was not intended to:
- Endorse a final model for a national representative body or
- Decide membership of a national representative body.
Selection process for workshop
Attendance at the workshop through the submission process was only by invitation and was decided through a rigorous selection process. Applicants had to:
- be an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
- be nominated by an Indigenous community organisation or self nominated with two written references supporting the nomination
- have demonstrated leadership capacity and ability to take part in high level discussions on strategic issues
- be able to communicate and interact effectively with a diverse range of people
- have demonstrated capacity to represent views and interests
- be able to make a positive and considered contribution to the discussions and deliberations on the establishment of the new National Indigenous Representative Body, and
- be available to attend and participate in the program and events for the whole workshop.
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Issues Papers, Community Guides and Reports
A summary report and the outcomes from the Adelaide workshop have been prepared by the Steering Committee and can be viewed on the links below.
As part of the consultations process, Community Guides and an Issues Paper were developed. These can be viewed on the links below.
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Submissions
Public submission processes were conducted through both phases of consultations. You can view the first and second round submissions and explore people's ideas and recommendations on the framework for a new National Indigenous Representative Body on links below.
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Where to find more background information
To learn more about the structure of previous Indigenous representative bodies and understand the Government's commitment to Indigenous affairs, you may find it useful to read the following documents: