Parliamentary Committees

Aboriginal Lands Parliamentary Standing Committee: Annual Report 2014-15

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. T.T. Ngo:

That the 2014-15 report of the committee be noted.

(Continued from 23 September 2015.)

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (21:19): I rise to speak as a member of the Aboriginal Lands Parliamentary Standing Committee, one of three in this place. My colleague the Hon. Terry Stephens and I are happy to be presided over by our new Presiding Member, the Hon. Tung Ngo. I note that particularly because, of course, this has been the first full year of the operations of the committee where the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, who used to be the presiding member of the committee, has been removed under the act and replaced with a presiding member from this council. I note that this has been a positive move, not simply for the fact that it has been done in a cross-party and conciliatory way. I thank the minister, now that he is not on the committee, for his ongoing support, not only in the portfolio, but in communications, correspondence and responsiveness to the committee.

Other members of the committee from the other place are: the member for Napier, Mr Jon Gee; the member for Giles, Mr Eddie Hughes; and the Liberal shadow minister for Aboriginal affairs and reconciliation, Dr Duncan McFetridge MP, who is also the member for Morphett.

The committee is a diverse one. The work of the committee is sometimes complex and challenging, but it is also a real privilege to be a member of this committee and undertake some of the work that we do. I also, at this point, pay tribute to the former minister, the late Terry Roberts, for his commitment in establishing this committee in the first place. The vision I think that he had for this committee at the moment is being seen to fruition.

The committee travelled to many parts of the state, including in the APY lands: Pipalyatjara, Kalka, Nyapari, Murputja, Kanpi, Umuwa and Amata, but also to Port Lincoln, Ceduna and Coober Pedy in the time of the compilation of this report.

We heard from many witnesses but of most note, for the purposes of reporting back to this council, I would thank those members of the APY Executive, the DSD AAR, the Aboriginal Lands Trust, Wiltja Constructions and SAPOL for contributing to our understanding and information of the issues affecting Aboriginal people in this state and helping us discharge our duties under the terms of reference for the committee for those particular acts which this committee has some responsibilities for.

The committee also undertakes to show their support for Aboriginal Australians and we attended, collegiately, a number of events. I must say that one of the most memorable ones was the National NAIDOC Week Awards in this state and in Kaurna country this year. I must thank both the federal minister, Nigel Scullion, and Dr Duncan McFetridge, the shadow minister, for affording the committee members an entree to that particular awards ceremony. Certainly, I know that members of the committee who were able to attend that not only enjoyed it, but certainly learnt a lot. I also commend the Hon. Tung Ngo for going above and beyond the call of duty that night in supporting some of the award recipients.

We have also attended the National Sorry Day Breakfast, the Adelaide Town Hall Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flag raising ceremonies and many other events of importance for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in furthering the work of reconciliation in this country—most important work indeed. I will depart noting that all committee members welcomed the announcement of a stolen generations scheme and that in previous years that has obviously been one of the more intensive parts of the work of this particular committee. I think we all look forward to that scheme becoming a reality. With those few words, I commend the report to the council.

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (21:23): I am very pleased to speak on this particular motion and commend the Hon. Tammy Franks for her pretty comprehensive description of the work that we have done and, pretty accurately, the way in which we have gone about it. I do not need to repeat verbatim the things that the Hon. Tammy Franks has said, but I do agree with her quite comprehensive coverage.

What I wanted to say was that, personally, I am looking forward to the next 12 months. I am hoping we can move not only onto trying in a compassionate way to listen to the issues that Aboriginal people present to us, but I would really like to find and try to suggest some positive things where we can either suggest or encourage Aboriginal people to improve their lives and their employment prospects.

I asked a question in the house today about tourism opportunities. I would really like the minister, if possible, or his office to try to devote some time to explore some of the opportunities that surely other people are doing well in other states. I do not know that we have to reinvent the wheel but it would be fabulous if we could show people good examples of really good opportunities for them to present their story to people who I know, especially interstate and overseas people, who are really hungry to understand the bits and pieces of Aboriginal culture, so I think there is an enormous opportunity there that personally I would like us to explore. I would love to see us contributing to some really positive stories, if we possibly can, with Aboriginal people.

I commend the Hon. Tung Ngo for his leadership. He has learnt a lot in his short time on the committee and he is a pleasure to work with, as are the other committee members from this house: the Hon. Tammy Franks and those lower house members in Jon Gee MP, Eddie Hughes MP and Dr Duncan McFetridge MP. I think we all have a genuine want to make a good contribution to the lives of Aboriginal people. Sometimes we are obviously frustrated that we cannot turn the wheel quickly enough but I know that at times even to listen to some people's stories and to pass those stories on give some comfort.

I thank Jason Caire, the secretary of the committee. He is extremely diligent in the way he tries to organise the MPs on that committee. Sometimes it is difficult because we can be like herding cats, because we all have different things we need to do. I will put on the record that occasionally I tease Jason a little bit and stir him up but he takes that in good spirit and really does work hard to try to accommodate all of our needs and things that we need to work within with regard to trips and that sort of thing. I thank Jason and I look forward to continuing to serve on that committee. Let's hope that we can continue to work with the minister and improve the lives of Aboriginal people. I commend the motion.

The Hon. T.T. NGO (21:27): I take this opportunity to thank the Hon. Tammy Franks and the Hon. Terry Stephens for their contributions tonight. Also I thank the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation and his office for their support to the committee and I look forward to working with him and his office in the coming year.

Motion carried.