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Have Your Say On The Future Of Indigenous Affairs

Australian Labor Party
News Statement

Kerry O'Brien - Shadow Minister for Reconciliation and Indigenous Affairs, Shadow Minister for Tourism , Shadow Minister for Regional Services and Territories

30 June 2004 - Federal Labor encourages all Australians to have a say on the future of Indigenous representation and the delivery of Indigenous programs by making a submission to the Senate Select Committee on the Administration of Indigenous Affairs.

The Select Committee is examining the provisions of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Amendment Bill 2004, the proposed administration of Indigenous programs and services by mainstream agencies, and related matters.

Labor initiated the Select Committee to give Australians an opportunity to have a say on the government’s recent radical policy changes.

Yesterday at its first public hearing the Committee heard details of the wholesale transfer of Indigenous programs and services to mainstream agencies. Key changes include the transfer of the Community Development and Employment Projects (CDEP) scheme to the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and the Community Housing and Infrastructure Program (CHIP) to the Department of Family and Community Services.

The Labor Senators appointed to the Select Committee, Trish Crossin (chair), Kerry O’Brien and Jan McLucas, encourage everyone with an interest in the way government responds to the needs of Indigenous Australians to make a submission.

Source: Australian Labor Party

Senate Select Committee on the Administration of Indigenous Affairs

On 16 June 2004 the Senate appointed the Select Committee on the Administration of Indigenous Affairs to report by 31 October 2004.

• Terms of Reference

Submissions

• Closing date for submissions is 30 July 2004, although the Committee will consider late submissions.
• How to contribute to the work of the Committee

For further information

Jonathan Curtis
The Secretary
The Senate
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2601

Telephone: (02) 6277 3419
Fax: (02) 6277 5866

E Mail: Indigenous.Affairs@aph.gov.au

Source: Senate Select Committee on the Administration of Indigenous Affairs

ATSIC inquiry extends submission deadline

4 August 2004 - An inquiry into the abolition of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) has extended the submission deadline for a number of organisations.

The Senate select committee running the inquiry will meet in Canberra today.

Committee chairman Trish Crossin says they have received 80 submissions so far and although the submissions period has closed, a further 80 are expected to be lodged in the next two weeks.

There has been some criticism over the short time frame of the inquiry, with only two regional hearings having been held at this stage.

At today's meeting the committee will decide on where it will hold future public hearings and what submissions will be made public.

Senator Crossin says one of the key concerns to emerge is the main streaming of ATSIC and ATSIS funding to government departments.

The committee's final report is expected in October.

Source: ABC

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