ABORIGINAL LANDS TRUST ACT

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON (Croydon) (14:28): Can the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs advise the house—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Croydon, could you start your question again?

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON: Can the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs advise the house whether there has been progress in the long-running review of the Aboriginal Lands Trust Act 1966?

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI (Hartley—Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (14:28): I thank the member for Croydon for this important question. I am very pleased to inform the house that the government has reached a significant milestone in this important review of the Aboriginal Lands Trust Act 1966.

On 4 November this year I released a consultation paper for further public discussion about proposed changes to the ALT. The consultation paper specifically proposes major changes to the ALT, including things such as:

an independent skills-based board to focus on the strategic management of the ALT estate as a whole;

decision-making processes that include all Aboriginal parties with an interest in the land (residents, people with historical or traditional connection, native title claimants);

dispute resolution processes to assist all parties to resolve disputes about rights and interests in land; and

a process for rectifying those leases and other agreements that are currently invalid.

The changes proposed will enable the ALT, residential communities and Aboriginal South Australians as a whole to ensure that this important asset provides the economic, social and cultural benefits that were intended.

I am pleased to announce that consultations are being held in all ALT residential communities and some regional centres. These sessions commenced on 15 November and last week were held in the West Coast and Eyre Peninsula communities—Port Lincoln, Ceduna, Yalata and Koonibba.

Interest from the communities has been strong. Generally, the proposals for a revitalised ALT have been positively received. In particular, Aboriginal people have welcomed the proposals for major structural reform of the ALT itself, the new inclusive and transparent decision-making processes and, importantly, the proposed good order audit of titles, leases and other interests in land.

I take this opportunity to thank the review's reference group, in particular the ALT Chair, Mr George Tongerie; ALT Deputy Chair, Haydn Davey; Commissioner for Aboriginal Engagement, Mr Klynton Wanganeen; Mr Derek Walker; Harry Miller; and Parry Agius, Chair of the South Australian Aboriginal Advisory Council. The reference group will again be leading the consultations and providing advice to me about them, and I thank them and Aboriginal South Australians for their hard work.