Aboriginal Lands Parliamentary Standing Committee: Annual Report 201617

The Hon. T.T. NGO (16:53): I move:

That the report of the committee be noted.

During the past year, the committee has been fortunate to hear from many Aboriginal leaders, representatives and organisations across South Australia. It has been our privilege to listen to the lived experiences of Aboriginal people across South Australia, and we are most appreciative of people giving so freely of their time and stories so that we might better understand the needs and aspirations of Aboriginal South Australians.

We heard formally from 26 witnesses during this reporting period, and we are pleased to note the progress of the stolen generations independent assessor, the Hon. John Hill, in his work on the Stolen Generations Reparation Scheme. This committee continued to have a vested interest in this activity given our pivotal role in advocating for and seeing this initiative come to fruition.

We have heard about the progress of the treaty consultations undertaken by Treaty Commissioner Dr Roger Thomas, matters relating to ear health and renal dialysis on the APY lands, access to interpreters for people in the criminal justice system, electoral provisions under the new APY Land Rights Act and also a number of specific matters relating to the Aboriginal Lands Trust SA. All witnesses provided the committee with valuable and insightful information. We are most appreciative of the time and input provided.

The committee took the opportunity to visit a number of Aboriginal communities on the Far West Coast and in the Far North of the state. We were kindly hosted by many Aboriginal and community organisations on our travels and are most appreciative of the time they gave to the committee away from their everyday work and commitments.

Whilst on the Far West Coast, the committee saw the enterprise development work being generated at the Scotdesco Aboriginal Community and the business and investment growth of the Far West Coast Aboriginal Corporation. We also heard of their recent signing of the Aboriginal regional authority agreement with the state government and their vision for the Far West Coast region.

The Far West Coast trip provided the committee with the opportunity to see firsthand the work of the Ceduna Aboriginal Corporation's youth hub, and the vibrancy of youth activity in this centre was inspiring. We also visited the Ceduna Day Centre, which provides those most in need with medical treatment, substance misuse counselling and referral services, hot meals and diversionary activities. The committee was most impressed with the community paramedic initiative, observing its operation within the day centre service in Ceduna. The benefits of this initiative were seen to be boundless and providing a very real, practical and immediate positive difference in people's lives.

Whilst in the region there were considerable discussions about the Indue cashless welfare card introduced by the federal government. These discussions provided the committee with arguments and lived experiences that both supported and criticised this initiative. The committee acknowledges that this initiative has created considerable debate locally and nationally and will remain connected on this topic and its impact on Aboriginal South Australians.

During this reporting period, the committee was also most graciously welcomed to the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara lands (APY lands) by local community leaders, the APY Executive members, service providers and individual members of the community. The committee visited Kaltjiti, also known as Fregon; Pukatja, also known as Ernabella; Amata; and Umuwa. All communities were generous in providing time out of their day to meet and show the committee their community, talk about their concerns and share achievements.

Across APY communities there were common themes, including the desire for Anangu to play a greater role in local decision-making to be in greater control of what happens in their communities. The communities also expressed common experiences with the current model for the community development program and the current work for the dole scheme, expressing a desire for the federal government to revisit its thinking about how this scheme works in remote areas. However, overall, the greatest area of discussion was the desire for greater employment opportunities for Anangu locally.

We also saw firsthand the progress of the APY road upgrade with visits to a crushing site, a section of road resurfacing and the TOLL administration sites. These site visits provided a valuable opportunity to see the work, both physically and culturally, undertaken to ensure that not only are the goals of the infrastructure upgrades met but that the Anangu land and culture are respected in this process.

Of special significance to me and the committee was the very unique and special opportunity we had of being able to undertake a guided tour of the Caterpillar Dreaming and Cave Hill sites. Both these experiences provided the committee with precious stories of the spiritual and ancestral connection between Anangu, land and country. Our appreciation goes to our guides at both of these locations.

The committee’s commitment to Aboriginal affairs and looking into matters affecting the lives of Aboriginal people extended beyond community visits and witness appearances, with members showing support by attending many key events throughout the year. I also mention that there has been a number of significant losses or passings within the South Australian Aboriginal community this past year, and the committee has paid its respects to these families during these difficult times.

I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge all committee members and staff, especially my colleagues—the Hon. Terry Stephens, the Hon. Tammy Franks, Dr Duncan McFetridge MP, Eddie Hughes MP, and Mr John Gee MP—for their support and commitment to the committee and the Aboriginal people. I also acknowledge past and present committee members and staff for their commitment and dedication to the work of this committee.

Finally, I would also like to thank all the Aboriginal communities, organisations and their representatives who have given their time, assisted with our visits and provided valuable insight to the committee during the year.

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (17:03): I would like to concur with the words of the Hon.  Tung Ngo, the Presiding Member of the Aboriginal Lands Parliamentary Standing Committee. I agree with everything that he has said, but there is one other point that I would like to make, and that is the work of the committee in consistently pushing for kidney dialysis on the APY lands. Our committee has been relentless and will continue to be so. I know that advances have been made but those advances, especially within SA Country Health, have been far too slow.

We will be like terrier dogs at the bone and we will to continue to make sure that kidney dialysis on the lands comes sooner rather than later. I concur with the words of the Hon. Tung Ngo, but there is one particular project that the Aboriginal Lands Parliamentary Standing Committee has its sights firmly set on and we will be relentless.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. J.M. Gazzola.