NGARRINDJERI REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

Ms SIMMONS (Morialta) (14:58): My question is to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation. What is the significance of the recently signed Ngarrindjeri Regional Partnership Agreement?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for Early Childhood Development, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister Assisting the Premier in Cabinet Business and Public Sector Management) (14:58): The significance of the honourable member's question is that it is an important regional partnership agreement between the state and commonwealth governments together with the Ngarrindjeri people. The other significance is that my signature appears alongside Dana Wortley's, Senator for South Australia, representing the commonwealth government.

The Hon. J.D. Hill interjecting:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: That is right. I attended the signing of the agreement on behalf of the state government at Camp Coorong last week. George Trevorrow signed on behalf of the Ngarrindjeri nation. The agreement provides the foundations to build a sustainable and prosperous region for the 4,500 Ngarrindjeri people who live in that region.

The Ngarrindjeri community has been at the forefront of promoting a future for their community in relation to caring for country and economic development. I think most of us here would realise that the future for Aboriginal communities must have some sustainable economic basis, and blending the notions of caring for country and environmental initiatives with Aboriginal culture, and also creating tourism and other economic opportunities which lead from those two ideas, is a wonderful, virtuous circle by which we can both acknowledge and strengthen Aboriginal culture, but at the same time provide a future for Aboriginal communities. The agreement focuses on the two themes of caring for country and economic development. It aims to provide economic sustainability and also greater independence for Ngarrindjeri people.

Funding will be provided for a business and economic development manager, a Caring for Country manager and an administrative assistant. The caring for country component is based on the Ngarrindjeri Sea and Country plan, which involves a group of Ngarrindjeri led by Tom and George Trevorrow. The Sea and Country plan is a document that was prepared in 2007 with funding from the Australian Government's National Oceans Office. It seeks to increase Ngarrindjeri involvement in the use and management of the Ngarrindjeri region's natural resources.

This regional partnership agreement will establish an indigenous protected area in the Ngarrindjeri lands. The partnership will also look at improving the protection of marine life, with the establishment of a Sea Rangers program. Two Ngarrindjeri people will complete a fisheries compliance officer course as part of the program.

The aim of the economic development component of the RPA is to develop an economic investment plan and commercial projects which will provide income and employment for Ngarrindjeri. A new investment company, Ngarrindjeri Enterprises Pty Ltd, will also be established to identify business opportunities in the lands. This will include developing a regional tourism plan to boost local tourism.

Linked to the preparation of the RPA is the establishment of the Ngarrindjeri Regional Authority, which is a peak body made up of representatives from community organisations across the Ngarrindjeri region. The notion of regional bodies for Aboriginal communities is very powerful, and we are looking at it closely as a potential model for other parts of the state.

The NRA is currently chaired by George Trevorrow, and meets fortnightly at Murray Bridge. The NRA will coordinate the implementation of the partnership agreement, and it will be supported by a steering group which will include stakeholder government agencies. It gives me great pleasure to see the establishment of the Ngarrindjeri Regional Authority. As I said, it could prove to be a model for the rest of the state.