Giving voice to indigenous in a reshaped body
Tom Calma; 14/7/08
A singer will tell you that a voice is the most personal and powerful instrument in a group. You can’t “play” a voice, it’s inside you and it’s the only one of its kind. Without a voice, you fall silent and you’re forced to rely on others to speak for you. Sometimes people will speak in your interests, but it will never be your voice. For much of Australia’s history, indigenous people have had no voice in debates about their own future. To be successful in making lasting progress to improve conditions for indigenous people and their communities, they need a strong national voice. The Australian Government has already acknowledged the need for a representative body. The Prime Minister also expressed his desire in the apology speech “to embrace a new partnership between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians”. The Howard government also supported the establishment of an indigenous representative body. It’s time to flesh out these commitments to ensure the full participation and input of indigenous peoples into government policy and decision making.
See: http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/giving-voice-to-indigenous-in-a-reshaped-body-20080713-3eh4.html
Mundine snubs ‘airy-fairy’ call
Natasha Robinson & Mark Dodd; 14/7/08
Aboriginal Labor leader Warren Mundine has rejected a call by the nation’s human rights commissioner for an indigenous representative body with powers to question ministers and bureaucrats. Mr Mundine yesterday slammed as “airy-fairy” the proposal by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma for an eventual indigenous chamber of parliament, which would give Aborigines direct input into national decision-making. In a paper entitled “Building a Sustainable and National Indigenous Representative Body”, Mr Calma draws on the experiences of four international indigenous models from the US, Canada, Sweden and New Zealand. The paper argues that the Swedish model is particularly interesting because it provides for the introduction of an indigenous parliament, although its role is restricted to monitoring government rather than acting as an instrument for self-governance.
See: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24014809-2702,00.html
Tags: Aboriginal, Australia, Reconciliation