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Indigenous posting jumps gun

By Andrew Faulkner

25 January 2008 - SOUTH Australia has recycled a former ATSIC commissioner into the role of its top indigenous advocate, jumping the gun on federal moves to set up a new representative organisation for Aborigines.

The Rann Government will today announce Klynton Wanganeen as its first commissioner for Aboriginal engagement, and that a new 10-member council will provide high-level confidential advice on indigenous policy.

The state has elected not to wait for federal Labor to deliver on its promised replacement for the Howard government's National Indigenous Council, which has been axed.

Federal ALP policy is for the government-appointed NIC, which was established as the successor to the elected Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission, to be replaced by another national indigenous body, to be comprised of elected members.

Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin said yesterday she remained committed to that policy.

South Australian Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation Jay Weatherill said the federal Government had provided no indication when the new organisation would be created.

He said today's appointments would endorse the recommendations of an interim advisory council set up to determine the best way of giving South Australian Aborigines a voice.

The state's Aboriginal Advisory Council will comprise members appointed by the minister and will sit alongside the national elected body.

Mr Weatherill said ATSIC's abolition in 2004 forced the state to frame its own arrangements for South Australian Aborigines. He said the initiatives fitted well with the Government's philosophy of acting in concert with Aborigines.

"Solutions for Aboriginal people will only succeed if they're designed and led by Aboriginal people," Mr Weatherill said. "We'll continue to make ineffective decisions if we don't involve Aboriginal people in the process."

Mr Wanganeen's role was loosely based on that of the state's Social Inclusion Commissioner David Cappo, and stemmed from suspicions that Aboriginal advocacy was a public service blind spot.

As commissioner, Mr Wanganeen is charged with "fostering and mentoring" Aboriginal leaders. Mr Wanganeen, the ATSIC commissioner at the time of its abolition, and a small team of support staff would operate from an office in the State Administration Centre.

One of his priorities is to push for Aborigines to share in the state's impending mining boom by securing jobs in the industry.

He called on the Rudd Government to set up an elected indigenous body as soon as possible.

"You have to have a mandate from the community to advocate on behalf of the Aboriginal community," he said.

Source: The Australian

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