What's New?
As part of the second round of consultations on a national Indigenous representative body, the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Mr Tom Calma has released a second Community Guide and invited people to have their say on the issues raised in the paper. The Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs will support the submission process and register all submissions received by the COB on 24th June 2009.
Submission Form and Community Guide can be downloaded from the links below:
Interested parties can view the second round of submissions and explore people's ideas and recommendations on possible models for a National Indigenous Representative Body.
Editorial Guidelines
Submissions may not be published if they promote a product or a service, contain offensive language, or the sentiments expressed are liable to offend or vilify sections of the community. We reserve the right not to publish submissions deemed inappropriate for reasons other than those outline above.
Privacy
FaHCSIA has in place privacy safeguards which acknowledge and respect the rights and the right of any third party name within a submission. Personal information as (defined in the Privacy Act 1988) about you that is contained in your submissions is collected for the purpose of authenticating submissions and for publication on the FaHCSIA website.
Submissions maybe published on this website unless you indicate on your submission form that you do not consent to publications. if your submission contains Personal information about third parties (for example names of third parties), please note that alterations may be made to your submissions to conceal the identity of the third parties so that the Australian Government satisfies its obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.
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Government Commitment
The Australian Government is committed to setting up a National Indigenous Representative Body to give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people a voice in national affairs.
The Government wants to rebuild the relationship with Indigenous Australians. In doing this, it is involving Indigenous communities in the decisions which affect them, to enable a collaborative approach to improving outcomes for Indigenous Australians.
The Government is 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 is seeking the views of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on a proposed National Indigenous Representative Body and is committed to establishing the Body within this term of office.
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Broad Principles
There are many lessons that can be learnt from past Indigenous representative bodies both here and overseas. The Government has communicated some broad principles for this 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 Minister has also indicated that she does not envisage that the body would have a service delivery role.
Keeping these factors in mind, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to consider and provide comment on any aspect of a National Indigenous Representative Body.
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What's happening now?
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 have been 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 is being 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.
Mr Calma has invited a number of individuals to participate on the Steering Committee. Each person has been selected to be on the Committee in their individual capacity and has been chosen 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. Click here to see Biographies (RTF 29kB | PDF 20kB) 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 is participating on the Steering Committee in an advisory capacity.
Mr Calma will present the results of the National Workshop and further consultations to the Government by July 2009.
This expanded process will build on the first round of consultations, which demonstrated the widespread support for a sustainable new body. To provide feedback on this process or to seek further information about the next stage of consultation email Indigenous representative body (indigenousrepbody@fahcsia.gov.au) or call 1800 202 366.
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Biographies of Steering Committee members
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Steering Committee Terms of Reference
The Terms of Reference for the independent Steering Committee include:
- facilitate an Indigenous Peoples' Workshop in March 2009, with a possible second workshop in June 2009
- develop a preferred model for a new National Indigenous Representative Body for presentation to the Australian Government in July 2009
- make recommendations in regards to the interim arrangements which would operate until the finalised body takes effect, and
- ensure strong community support for such a representative model.
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National Workshop of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples 11 - 13 March 2009
In order that the Government receives 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.
A report on the outcomes from the Adelaide workshop has been prepared by the Steering Committee.
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How to get more information
If you would like to provide feedback on this process or would like further information about the next stage of consultation, call 1800 202 366 or email Indigenous Representative Body (indigenousrepbody@fahcsia.gov.au).
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What happened in the first round of consultations?
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
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Regional Consultations - July - September 2008
From late July and throughout September, the Department conducted consultation meetings in every State and the Northern Territory including more remote locations. These consultations were designed to attract Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from across the surrounding region. Consultations in regional areas also catered for attendees from remote locations. The feedback from these consultations was provided to the Steering Committee to inform their deliberations.
Submissions
One hundred and six written submissions were received as part of the first round of the consultation process. You can view the submissions and explore people's ideas and recommendations on the framework for a new National Indigenous Representative Body. Submissions closed on 19 September.
Issues you might want to think about
These issues were listed for the consideration of people who participated in the first round of consultations. It is critical to the success of any National Indigenous Representative Body that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have faith in it and that the Government values its advice. The following are some questions you may wish to think about when you are considering the role and make-up of the body.
- What constructive roles do you want to see the body play in Indigenous and national affairs?
- What outcomes do you want the National Indigenous Representative Body to deliver?
- What role don't you want to see the body do, particularly from past lessons learned?
- How does the body support rather than duplicate the work of Indigenous peak organisations, and representative arrangements at the state/territory and regional level?
- How will the body be influential and persuasive with governments of all political backgrounds, the corporate sector and the broader public?
- How should people be chosen to be members of this body?
- What skills, experience and qualities would you expect these people to have?
- How can we achieve a balance of elders, youth, women, and men in positions of leadership?
- How can the body most accurately represent the views and priorities of Indigenous people living in urban, regional and remote parts of Australia?
- How will the body have its performance measured and be held to account? This includes how members of the body will be held accountable to their peers in the Indigenous community, the broader public and Government.
- How will this body be involved with the Australian Government? This includes whether the body will be operating within, or outside Government.
- What sources of funding (Government and non-Government) could be used to cover the costs of the body?
These questions are suggestions only. You may consider whatever you wish, bearing in mind the principles outlined above. Further information, including an Issues Paper from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner is outlined below. The Issues Paper contains many more questions, including the rationale for considering them.
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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:
This information can also be mailed to you by calling 1800 202 366.