Parliamentary Committees

ABORIGINAL LANDS PARLIAMENTARY STANDING COMMITTEE: ANNUAL REPORT

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (15:57): I move:

That the annual report of the committee 2009-10 be noted.

This is the sixth annual report of the Aboriginal Lands Parliamentary Standing Committee. It provides a summary of the committee's activities for the financial year ending 30 June 2010. Over the last year, the committee has consulted with a wide range of Aboriginal people in their home communities. These consultations have helped the committee's understanding of the way services and programs are delivered to Aboriginal people.

The majority of this report summarises the activities undertaken by the committee as it was constituted prior to the 2010 state election. During the year, the committee visited Aboriginal communities at Oak Valley, Yalata, Oodnadatta and Coober Pedy and numerous Aboriginal organisations and support organisations within Adelaide. The highlight for the committee was attending the hand-back ceremony of the Maralinga Tjarutja lands to their traditional owners in December 2009.

I am pleased to report that the current committee is building on the work of the previous committee particularly in its commitment to take the time to meet with Aboriginal people on their lands. I am thankful to all members of the committee past and present for their dedication and commitment. I would like to thank all the previous members for their dedication, hard work, cooperation and contributions: the Hon. Jay Weatherill, the Hon. Lyn Breuer, Dr Duncan McFetridge, the Hon. Robert Brokenshire and the Hon. Lea Stevens. I also thank those across government and the non-government sector who have contributed to the work of the committee during the period of this report.

Lastly, on behalf of the entire committee, I would like to thank all the Aboriginal people the committee has met over the past year. I appreciate their willingness to discuss their issues, share their stories and knowledge. The committee looks forward to continuing to develop those relationships in the years ahead. Sir, I commend the report to you.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. T.J. Stephens.