Aboriginal Constitutional Recognition

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (14:53): Supplementary question arising out of the minister's answer: given that my advice is that the government has decided to appoint a commissioner for treaty—and in fact has, but put that separate question to the side—what would be the role of the commissioner for treaty, in particular in relation to the already appointed two part-time Commissioners for Aboriginal Engagement? What would be the demarcation line between a commissioner for treaty, as the government is going to appoint (or, in my view, has appointed), and the two part-time Commissioners for Aboriginal Engagement?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (14:54): I thank the honourable member for his question. Something we made very clear in the Mid-Year Budget Review was our intention to appoint a commissioner for treaty. The role, as we see it, for the commissioner for treaty would be as a liaison between the government and Aboriginal South Australia—to act as someone who can bring the views of Aboriginal South Australia to the government and also, as we go down this process, act as an intermediary between the South Australian government and Aboriginal South Australia.

Certainly, the part-time Commissioners for Aboriginal Engagement play an important role that is much, much broader than that, and spans a whole range of policy areas and advice to government.