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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-04-09 Daily Xml
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ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS AND RECONCILIATION DIVISION

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (14:28): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement on the topic of machinery government changes, Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation Division.

Leave granted.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: Effective 1 July 2013, the Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation Division within the Department of the Premier and Cabinet will sharpen its role as a provider of policy advice to government while its remaining service delivery functions will be incorporated into operational agencies. Implementation of the new administrative arrangements will be managed by a working group overseen by the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment. These changes will enable AARD to focus on providing strategic policy advice to government while enabling operational agencies to focus on improving service delivery outcomes for Aboriginal people.

The South Australian government is also committed to enabling local Aboriginal organisations and communities to contribute to the delivery of services and opportunities for Aboriginal people at the local level. The Aboriginal Reconciliation Division will continue to be the government's lead agency on Aboriginal Affairs matters. Its primary responsibilities and focus will be to:

empower Aboriginal people to have a stronger voice in decisions that affect their lives and provide leadership and promotion of effective governance arrangements;

provide whole of government policy advice and leadership;

support engagement with Aboriginal stakeholders including the provision of culturally appropriate advice to government;

develop and coordinate whole of government strategies, particularly the Council of Australian Governments National Indigenous Reform Agreements;

provide support to the South Australian Aboriginal Advisory Council, the Chief Executives Group on Aboriginal Affairs and other representative bodies as required;

encourage across-government knowledge sharing and support of reconciliation principles; and

provide advice and support on the administration of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1979, the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988, the Aboriginal Lands Parliamentary Standing Committee Act 2003, the Aboriginal Lands Trust Act 1966, the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Land Rights Act 1981, and the Maralinga Tjarutja Land Rights Act 1984.

The Weatherill government is committed to improving the quality of life of our first peoples, and I look forward to working with Aboriginal communities, relevant government agencies, all members of this place and the wider South Australian community to advance this cause.

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