Parliamentary Committees

Aboriginal Lands Parliamentary Standing Committee: Annual Report 2014-15

The Hon. T.T. NGO (16:07): I move:

That the 2014-2015 report of the committee be noted.

I am very pleased to present the 11^th annual report of the Aboriginal Lands Parliamentary Standing Committee and my second as the Presiding Member of the committee.

The committee is responsible for reviewing the operation of the Aboriginal Lands Trust Act 2013, the Maralinga Tjarutja Land Rights Act 1984 and the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Land Rights Act 1981. The committee also has the responsibility to review the operation of the new Aboriginal Lands Trust Act three years after its commencement.

The committee discharges its responsibilities in part by visiting Aboriginal lands and Aboriginal communities, by maintaining strong relationships with the Aboriginal landholding statutory authorities and by inviting representatives from those statutory authorities to appear before the committee to give evidence. During the past year, the committee visited the APY communities of Pipalyatjara, Kalka, Nyapari, Murputja, Kampi, Umuwa and Amata as well as Aboriginal Lands Trust holdings in Port Lincoln, Ceduna, the Far West Coast and Coober Pedy. The committee is very busy.

The committee was pleased to see that the prices of fresh food supplied in Mai Wiru stores throughout the APY lands were significantly lower than on previous visits. The initial funding support of Mai Wiru by the state and commonwealth governments has led to better coordination of purchasing and lower transport costs which has resulted in quality food being delivered to the APY lands at more affordable prices. The committee commends the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation and Mai Wiru for this initiative, which is now fully self-funded.

The committee has also been pleased to hear the progress of the APY lands main access road upgrade projects, with the state and commonwealth governments contributing $106.2 million to upgrade 210 kilometres of the main access road between the Stuart Highway and Pukatja, as well as 21 kilometres of community and airstrip access road in Pukatja, Umuwa, Kaltjitji, Mimili and Iwantja.

The committee will continue to advocate for at least 30 per cent of the jobs in the roads upgrade project and have meaningful employment opportunities for Anangu as specified in the tendering requirements. The committee also had evidence from a number of witnesses, including representatives of the APY Executive at the time, the interim APY general manager, the chief executive of the Aboriginal Lands Trust, the executive director of the Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation Division, Department of State Development, and others.

As a result of these visits and evidence received, the committee was able to raise a number of important issues with the relevant state and federal ministers and government agencies responsible for service provision in Aboriginal communities. The committee also showed its support for Aboriginal Australians, attending a number of different events, including the National Sorry Day breakfast, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flag-raising ceremony at the Adelaide Town Hall, and South Australian and National NAIDOC award ceremonies.

On behalf of the committee, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Mr Tauto Sansbury, who was awarded the NAIDOC Lifetime Achievement Award. Mr Sansbury is a respected advocate for social justice who has fought to improve the conditions of Aboriginal people in the criminal justice system. I also congratulate all the deserving 2015 national and South Australian NAIDOC award winners.

The committee is also a strong supporter of recognition for Aboriginal people in Australia's constitution and also acknowledges the importance of reconciliation for all Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. As members know, South Australia changed its constitution in March 2013 to recognise Aboriginal people as the traditional owners of our state's lands and waters and to acknowledge the continuing significance of Aboriginal heritage and culture. I think this is a positive step and sends a message to the commonwealth to take the necessary steps to ensure Indigenous recognition in the national constitution.

To all the committee members, past and present, I thank you for your time, dedication and invaluable contribution to the very important work of this committee. I would also like to acknowledge and thank the individuals and organisations who presented evidence to the committee. Through their evidence, the committee was able to gain a clearer picture of the important issues.

Personally, it has been a pleasure to meet the Aboriginal community organisations and representatives: I thank them for their warm hospitality. The committee continued to learn from Aboriginal people and I wish respectfully to pay tribute to their culture, their strength and resilience and honour the memory of those who have passed away.

Amidst a rejuvenated spirit of national reconciliation, whilst recognising the many and varied challenges in the area of Aboriginal affairs that lie ahead, the Aboriginal Lands Parliamentary Standing Committee continued to commit and apply itself to further developing positive relationships with Aboriginal South Australians, and to work in a partnership to achieve better outcomes for all indigenous people.

Finally, I thank all members of the committee: the Hon. Tammy Franks MLC; the Hon. Terry Stephens MLC; Dr Duncan McFetridge, member for Morphett; Mr Jon Gee, the member for Napier; and Mr Eddie Hughes, the member for Giles, for their contributions and assistance and advice to me. All members of the committee worked together in a non-partisan manner to bring the best outcome for the Aboriginal community.

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