Consultations for the proposed National Indigenous Representative Body
Giving Indigenous Australians a Voice
- What's it about?
- What's happening?
- Broad principles
- Issues you might want to think about
- Where to find out more information
- How can you have your say?
- Where and when
- Who can attend?
- How to register
- Contact us
- Submissions
What's it about?
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 and policy development.The Government wants to build a relationship with Indigenous Australians based on respect, co-operation and mutual responsibility. 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 now seeking the views of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on a proposed national Indigenous representative body.
What's happening?
Consultations planned over the next six months include:- 17 regional consultations around Australia between 29 July and 1 September 2008.
- A comprehensive mail out to Indigenous organisations informing them about the consultation process and inviting submissions.
- A process for people to lodge written submissions by 19 September 2008.
- A national roundtable meeting of Indigenous leaders in late October 2008.
- Community workshops/consultations facilitated by the network of 30 Indigenous Coordination Centres and possibly by Government Business Managers in the NT.
- Consultations with peak Indigenous organisations.
- Consultations with State and Territory Governments.
- Further testing and refining of a proposed model.
This process should allow for widespread engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the country to gain feedback on the Indigenous community's aspirations and preferred model(s) for a national Indigenous representative body.
Broad Principles
Lessons learnt from past Indigenous representative bodies have shown that there are some aspects of a representative body that do not work well. 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.
Issues you might want to think about
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 lessons learned from the past?
- 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.
Where to find out more information
Before submitting your ideas you might want to read some background material to assist you in your thinking.You may find it useful to read information on the Government's commitment to Closing the Gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Mr Tom Calma, released an issues paper - Building a Sustainable National Indigenous Representative Body - Issues for Consideration - on 12 July 2008. This detailed background research covers:
- details on the history of Indigenous representative organisations in Australia, including some of the pros and cons of those models;
- what's happening in other countries; and
- possible key issues to be considered, including detailed questions that might help individuals and organisations in their discussions and deliberations.
This information can also be mailed to you by calling 1800 202 366.
How can you have your say?
- Regional Consultations
Details are provided below.
- Written submissions
Written submissions can be made by Friday 19 September 2008 to indigenousrepbody@fahcsia.gov.au, by fax on 02 6264 5069 or by post to:
National Indigenous Representative Body Unit
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
PO Box 7576
Canberra Business Centre ACT 2610.
Where and when
| State | City | Venue | Consultation Dates | Registration Dates Close |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VIC | Melbourne | Melbourne Town Hall | 29 July | 25 July |
| TAS | Hobart | Hotel Grand Chancellor | 30 July | 25 July |
| SA | Adelaide | The Shores Function Complex, West Beach | 5 August | 29 July |
| SA | Ceduna | The Ceduna Sailing Club | 6 August | 30 July |
| WA | Geraldton | African Reef Resort | 5 August | 29 July |
| WA | Perth | Rydges Perth | 7 August | 1 August |
| WA | Kalgoorlie | WMC Conference Centre | 8 August | 1 August |
| WA | Broome | Cable Beach Club Resort | 11 August | 1 August |
| NSW | Broken Hill | Musicians Club | 8 August | 1 August |
| NSW | Sydney | Stamford Plaza, Sydney Airport | 18 August | 11 August |
| NSW | Dubbo | Dubbo RSL Club Resort | 19 August | 11 August |
| NT | Darwin | Crowne Plaza Darwin | 19 August | 11 August |
| NT | Alice Springs | Voyages Alice Springs Resort | 21 August | 11 August |
| QLD | Brisbane | Mercure Hotel Brisbane | 25 August | 15 August |
| QLD | Mt Isa | Mt Isa Civic Centre | 27 August | 15 August |
| QLD | Torres Strait | Port Kennedy Hall | 29 August | 15 August |
| QLD | Cairns | Rydges Tradewinds | 1 September | 15 August |
Other additional locations for consultations are currently being considered by the ICC network.
Who can attend?
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can attend.How to register
You can register your interest in attending one of the consultation meetings by calling 1800 202 366.Contact us
For more information about the consultations and how to register, contact us on 1800 202 366 or email the indigenousrepbody@fahcsia.gov.au.Submissions
You can make a submission outlining your ideas and recommendations for the proposed national Indigenous representative body using the submission form. This document has a 1000 word limit. Please try to keep your submission concise, however, you may include an attachment if you exceed the word limit.
Submissions may be published on this website. Please indicate on your submission (in the tick boxes on the submission template) whether you consent to us publishing your submission on this website. We will not publish your submission without your express consent.
Send your submission to the following address:
Email: indigenousrepbody@fahcsia.gov.au.
Post:
National Indigenous Representative Body Unit
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
PO Box 7576
Canberra Business Centre ACT 2610
Fax: 02 6264 5069
You will not receive a substantive response to your submission, although it will either appear on the website or its receipt will be acknowledged. The ideas and views expressed in public submissions will be reviewed, and will help inform the Australian Government's response to its commitment for a national Indigenous representative body.
The closing date for submissions is 19 September 2008.
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. Submissions that significantly exceed the word limit may also be excluded. We reserve the right not to publish submissions deemed inappropriate for reasons other than those outlined above.Privacy
FaHCSIA has in place privacy safeguards which acknowledge and respect your rights and the rights of any third party named in your submission. Personal Information (as defined in the Privacy Act 1988) about you that is contained in your submission is collected for the purpose of authenticating submissions and for publication on the website.Submissions may be published on this website unless you indicate on your submission form that you do not consent to publication. If your submission contains Personal Information about third parties (for example, names of third parties), please note that alterations may be made to your submission to conceal the identity of the third parties so that the Australian Government satisfies its obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.