Parliamentary Committees

ABORIGINAL LANDS PARLIAMENTARY STANDING COMMITTEE: ANNUAL REPORT 2011-12

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (15:55): I move:

That the annual report of the committee, 2011-2012, be noted.

It is with pleasure that I speak on the eighth annual report of the Aboriginal Lands Parliamentary Standing Committee, which provides a summary of the committee's activities for the financial year ending 30 June 2012. Over the last year, the committee has met with a wide range of Aboriginal people and their communities. These meetings have given the committee and the South Australian parliament a better understanding of the issues that are important to Aboriginal South Australians.

During the year, the committee visited the APY lands and Oak Valley, Maralinga, as well as Nepabunna, the Gerard Aboriginal community, Winkie Primary School, the Port Lincoln Aboriginal Corporation, and other Aboriginal organisations and support organisations within Adelaide. The committee also visited Western Australia to gain insight into the initiatives that are working well in the resource sector, private and public, to skill, employ and retain Aboriginal employees in the workplace.

With the resources sector in South Australia seen as a potential growth area for employment, particularly for Aboriginal people, the committee perceived benefit in inquiring into and meeting with some of the key employers and service providers in the established resources sector in Western Australia. The committee would particularly like to thank Rio Tinto Australia for its generosity and time in assisting the committee with its visit.

In June 2011, the Legislative Council referred the Stolen Generations Reparations Tribunal Bill 2010 to the committee for inquiry. The inquiry has received a number of submissions and heard evidence from 12 witnesses from eight Aboriginal support agencies. The inquiry is due to finish hearing evidence later this year. During the year, the committee also heard evidence from witnesses from a number of state agencies and Aboriginal support organisations, and I thank the people who provided information to the committee.

I am also thankful to all members of the committee, past and present, for their dedication and hard work. I particularly thank previous members—the Hon. John Gazzola, who left us for greener pastures, Mr Alan Sibbons, Mr Steven Marshall and Ms Frances Bedford—for their contributions to the committee. I also acknowledge the current members of the committee for their ongoing efforts—Ms Zoe Bettison, Dr Susan Close, Dr Duncan McFetridge and the Hon. Tammy Franks—and I particularly welcome our new member of the committee, the Hon. Kyam Maher. I noted in his maiden speech yesterday the obvious passion he has for Aboriginal affairs, and this is most welcome.

I thank all the Aboriginal people the committee has met over the past year. I appreciate their willingness to discuss their issues and share their stories and knowledge with the committee. In particular, I thank Jason Caire, our committee secretary, for his enthusiasm and genuine interest in supporting the committee in his tripartisan goal of improving the lives of all Aboriginal people.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. K.J. Maher.