Fed: New indigenous body outlined by Aboriginal leader

AAP General News (Australia)
08-27-2009
Fed: New indigenous body outlined by Aboriginal leader

CANBERRA, Aug 27 AAP - A new national indigenous representative body could hold its
first congress by October next year if the Rudd government adopts the proposal put to
it by Aboriginal Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma.

Mr Calma handed his final report into establishing a body to replace ATSIC to Indigenous
Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin in Canberra on Thursday.

The report suggests the body should comprise an eight-member national executive, a
128 seat national congress and an ethics council to ensure its members are all "fit and
proper persons".

Mr Calma told the National Press Club that the first congress should be convened by October 2010.

"We have suffered from the absence of a strong national representative organisation
over the past five years," he said.

"As a result as a nation we have lacked the most fundamental of requirements for a
reconciled nation - a robust genuine partnership between government and Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander peoples."

The body, which has yet to be named, will be independent from government and operate
as a registered company, Mr Calma said.

He expects the commonwealth to contribute $5 million to get it up and running but says
after five years it will rely less and less on government funds.

Instead, it will draw on a $200 million investment fund - from all sources, including
corporate donations and charitable donations.

It would be established over the initial 10 years to ensure a sufficient recurrent
expenditure base for the organisation after that time.

"It is envisaged in 10 years the national representative body will be an organisation
that is self sufficient, self determining and truly independent of government," Mr Calma
said.

AAP jcd/sb/mn

KEYWORD: INDIGENOUS UPDATE

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.