Final stage in consultations for a new national Indigenous representative body
12 June 2009
Late last year, the Australian Government invited the Aborignal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner to convene an independent Steering Committee to develop a preferred model for a national representative body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
In March, the Steering Committee convened a national workshop in Adelaide to identify the key elements of a new national representative body. Consensus was reached at this workshop on a range of issues but further consultation and discussion is needed to address four outstanding issues: how the body can best represent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in a way that includes local and regional issues; what should be the structure of the national representative body; what should its relationship be with Government and the Parliament; and how should it be funded.
The Steering Committee is required to present a preferred model to the Australian Parliament by July 2009 and to recommend an interim body for establishment from August 2009.
The following information is designed to help you have your say in developing a new national representative body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Please answer the online survey, which has been extended to 26 June and/or provide a written submission by 24 June.
Submissions can be made using the online form at www.fahcsia.gov.au
Submissions can be emailed to indigenousrepbody@fahcsia.gov.au or posted to National Indigenous Representative Body Unit, Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, PO Box 7576, Canberra Business Centre ACT 2610.
What's new
- Survey - National Representative Body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders - extended to 26 June
- Competition to name the National Representative Body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
(2 June 2009) - Getting it right - Progress towards a new national representative body - a community guide
(14 May 2009) - Adelaide Workshop Full Report (April 2009)
- Report of outcomes of the first phase consultations (FaHCSIA)
- Make a submission at www.fahcsia.gov.au
Adelaide Workshop Summary Report (March 2009)
Building a sustainable National Indigenous Representative Body – Issues for consideration
On 12 July 2008 the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Tom Calma, released an issues paper outlining key considerations in the development of a new National Indigenous Representative Body.
- The full text of the issues paper is available, also in
PDF (1.2 MB) or 
Word (680K). - A summary of the issues paper is available, also in Word (142K)
- A community guide is also available
- Building a sustainable National Indigenous Representative Body Speech by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Tom Calma, AIATSIS Seminar Series, 4 August 2008
The issues paper addresses the following three questions:
- First, what lessons can be learned from mechanisms for representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples at the national, State/ Territory or regional level that have previously existed or that are currently in place?
- Second, what lessons can be learned from mechanisms for representing Indigenous peoples that have been established in other countries?
- And third, what options are there for ensuring that a National Indigenous Representative Body is sustainable?
The research identifies the many and varied issues that need to be considered in the formulation of a new representative body. It does not propose a model for the body itself.
Other materials on National Indigenous Representative Structures
Since 2004, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner has considered issues relating to the need for a National Indigenous Representative Body as well as monitoring the post-ATSIC ‘new arrangements’ for the administration of Indigenous Affairs.
For an outline of events that led to the dismantling of ATSIC, and an overview of the challenges in implementing the ‘new arrangements’ for the administration of Indigenous affairs, see Chapter 3 of the Social Justice Report 2004.
For a review of the importance of Indigenous representation in government policy making and service delivery, see Chapter 3 of the Social Justice Report 2005.
For an evaluation of the capacity for Indigenous engagement and participation in policy making under the ‘new arrangements’, see Chapter 3 of the Social Justice Report 2006.
Further Information
The following materials by the Social Justice Commissioner are also relevant to discussions about a new National Indigenous Representative Body.
- Sustainable options for Australia’s new national Indigenous representative body (Speech by Tom Calma, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Commission Native Title Conference 2008, 4 June 2008, Perth).
- Essentials for Social Justice: Reform (Speech by Tom Calma, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner and National Race Discrimination Commissioner, 20 February 2008 Brisbane).
