Joint Council members were welcomed to Larrakia Country by Trent Lee who performed a Saltwater Ceremony at the Darwin Waterfront Precinct.
Joint Council paid respects to Larrakia Elders, acknowledging their continuing custodianship of lands from the Cox Peninsula in the west, to Gunn Point in the north, Adelaide River in the east and down to the Manton Dam area southwards.
Joint Council members shared updates from their respective jurisdictions and discussed possible opportunities to build Closing the Gap into the Federation Funding Agreements Framework and government budget processes.
Joint Council endorsed the Justice Policy Partnership (JPP) Strategic Framework in principle and discussed the need for further consideration of specific actions by the Partnership Working Group proposed by the Northern Territory. The JPP Strategic Framework will guide the actions of the JPP and includes a focus on transforming justice systems so they work for, not against, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Members were also provided with a verbal update from the Social and Emotional Wellbeing Policy Partnership and written updates from the other policy partnerships.
Joint Council discussed principles developed by the Coalition of Peaks to support jurisdictions in establishing independent mechanisms to support, monitor, and report on the transformation of mainstream agencies and institutions.
Joint Council agreed to a revised Joint Communications Strategy to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to better understand and have greater ownership over the National Agreement. Members agreed that a greater focus from all Parties on the joint actions in the Joint Communications Strategy is important to successful implementation of the National Agreement. Joint Council discussed the need for Partnership Working Group to further consider the responsibility for specific Government Party actions outlined in general terms in the Joint Communications Strategy.
Members heard updates from each jurisdiction in relation to efforts to increase the proportion of services delivered by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, particularly community-controlled organisations (clause 55). The timely implementation of this is imperative to the success of Priority Reform Two under the National Agreement.
Joint Council agreed to explore more effective approaches to standardise the ongoing collection, storage, access, and reporting of expenditure data across jurisdictions.
Joint Council discussed barriers and lessons learned in relation to reviews of expenditure on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs and services, with jurisdictions providing an update on the status of outstanding reviews. Members noted that it is difficult to drive forward reprioritisation work with several expenditure reviews outstanding.
Joint Council discussed the interim Partnership Health Check report and how the Partnership can work more effectively together to implement the National Agreement and improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Joint Council heard an update on implementation of Priority Reform Three (transforming government organisations), Community Data Projects, Place-Based Partnerships and the inland waters target baseline peer review exercise.
Attendees – Coalition of Peaks representatives
| Name | Representing | Organisation |
|---|---|---|
| Catherine Liddle | Acting Joint Council Co-Chair | Deputy Lead Convenor, Coalition of Peaks and SNAICC – National Voice for our Children |
| John Leha | NSW | New South Wales Child, Family and Community Peak Aboriginal Corporation |
| Michael Graham | VIC | Victorian Aboriginal Executive Council |
| Wynetta Dewis | QLD | Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service |
| Vicki O’Donnell OAM | WA | Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia (AHCWA) |
| Scott Wilson | SA | Deputy Lead Convenor, Coalition of Peaks and South Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation Network (SAACCON) |
| Graeme Gardner | TAS | Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre (TAC) |
| Paula McGrady | ACT | ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body (ACT ATSIEB) |
| Dr John Paterson | NT | Aboriginal Peak Organisations Northern Territory (APONT) |
| Muriel Bamblett AO | Education and Families | Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) |
| Donnella Mills | Health and Wellbeing | National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) |
| Yuseph Deen | Economic Development | New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council |
| Karly Warner | Justice | CEO, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services |
Attendees – Government Parties
| Name | Jurisdiction | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Hon Linda Burney MP | Commonwealth | Minister for Indigenous Australians |
| Senator the Hon Malarndirri McCarthy | Commonwealth | Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians |
| Hon David Harris MP | NSW | Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty |
| Ms Christine Couzens MLA | VIC | Parliamentary Secretary, First Peoples |
| Ms Merideth Hammat MLA | WA | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs |
| Hon Kyam Maher MLC | SA | Minister for Aboriginal Affairs |
| Rachel Stephen-Smith MLA | ACT | Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs |
| Hon Selena Uibo MLA | NT | Minister for Aboriginal Affairs |
| Cr Linda Scott | Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) | President, Australian Local Government Association |
Apologies
| Name | Representing | Organisation |
|---|---|---|
| Pat Turner AM | Joint Council Co-Chair | Lead Convenor, Coalition of Peaks |
| Hon Gabrielle Williams MP | VIC | Minister for Treaty and First Peoples |
| Hon Leeanne Enoch MP | QLD | Minister for Treaty, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Minister for Communities and Minister for the Arts |
| Hon Dr Tony Buti MLA | WA | Minister for Aboriginal Affairs |
| Hon Roger Jaensch MP | TAS | Minister for Aboriginal Affairs |