Commissioners for Aboriginal Engagement

The Hon. T.T. NGO (15:19): My question is for the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation. I am told recently the minister appointed two Commissioners for Aboriginal Engagement. Could the minister tell the house more about those two appointments?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:19): I thank the honourable member for his very important question. As many members would be aware, particularly those members who are on the Aboriginal Lands Parliamentary Standing Committee, as a number in this place are, in 2007 the state government established a new independent voice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in South Australia with a direct line to the state government. The establishment of a Commissioner for Aboriginal Engagement provides to the state government, as well as being a point of contact for Aboriginal people in South Australia, an avenue to express their views about policy and programs.

In January 2008, the government appointed South Australia's inaugural commissioner for Aboriginal engagement, Mr Klynton Wanganeen, who held the position until 2011. In 2011, the then minister for Aboriginal affairs and reconciliation appointed Ms Khatija Thomas as the state's first female commissioner for Aboriginal engagement. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Ms Thomas for her time and achievements as the state's inaugural female commissioner for Aboriginal engagement.

Ms Thomas was born in Port Augusta and is a proud Kokatha woman. Prior to her appointment, she was a solicitor with the South Australian Native Title Service, working hard to encourage Aboriginal people's participation and governance on issues affecting native title. Ms Thomas has also previously worked for the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement and completed a 12-month Australian Youth Ambassador for Development placement as a legal adviser at the Community Legal Education Center in Cambodia. Ms Thomas was also formerly a chair of the Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute and a member of the Law Society of South Australia's Indigenous issues committee.

During her four years in the role as commissioner for Aboriginal engagement, Ms Thomas has a lot to be proud of. Whether it be her strong support for reconciliation initiatives, her advocacy for recognition of Aboriginal people in the federal constitution and the Recognise campaign generally, or her advocacy for Aboriginal people accessing government services, Ms Thomas was a worthy ambassador for Aboriginal people in this state.

I was pleased to announce earlier this month the appointment of two new co-Commissioners for Aboriginal Engagement, being Ngarrindjeri and Kaurna man Frank Lampard OAM and Inawantji Scales from the APY lands, as Joint Commissioners for Aboriginal Engagement. During the next 12 months, they will share the role of providing Aboriginal leadership in South Australia, advocating on behalf of all Aboriginal people in communities across the state. I know that both Mr Lampard and Ms Scales will bring a diverse range of experiences and knowledge to the role.

Many in this chamber will know Mr Frank Lampard. He spent over 20 years on advisory bodies such as the Council of the University of South Australia, a range of government bodies and Tauondi College; he was chair of the board of the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement, chair of the South Australian Aboriginal Heritage Committee, and the native title commissioner for South Australia. Mr Lampard is also currently Deputy Chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander War Memorial Committee.

Ms Inawantji Scales, or Ina Scales, has lived for most of her life in the central desert region and her mother is an Aboriginal woman from the Pipalyatjara/Kalka area, a community in the very far north-west of the APY lands. From 2003 until 2005, Ms Scales was a member of the NPY Women's Council and remains a very active member of the NPY community. I know that, only in the last couple of weeks, Ms Scales was elected to the board of the NPY Women's Council. She is also working with the other council to support the Empowered Communities reform initiative.

Mr Lampard and Ms Scales bring together both a gender balance and a diversity in terms of their experience, being based in regional South Australia and in metropolitan South Australia, and I think they will ensure that there is great statewide representation for Aboriginal people and matters in the Aboriginal affairs area.

This shared commissioner role will enhance and broaden the reach of the commissioner as an independent public advocate for the interests of the Aboriginal people, benefiting all South Australians. On behalf of the government of South Australia, I welcome Mr Lampard and Ms Scales to their roles. I look forward to working with the new commissioners and realising the benefits of their experience and commitment to the benefit of all Aboriginal South Australians.

The PRESIDENT: Supplementary, the Hon. Ms Vincent.