ACT MINISTER FOR ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER AFFAIRS SUZANNE ORR: I'm Suzanne Orr, the ACT Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs. I’d just like to welcome everyone to Canberra today, and I'm going to hand over now to our elected body chairperson, Maurice Walker, to do an Acknowledgement of Country.
ACT ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER ELECTED BODY CHAIRPERSON, MAURICE WALKER: Thankyou Minister. On behalf of residents of the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, I acknowledge that we are on the lands of the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people. We are conducting our business here today. I acknowledge their Elders past, present and emerging and offer the acknowledgement to all other Aboriginal people gathering today for this important meeting. Thankyou, welcome.
MINISTER ORR: Thank you all for coming along, I’m now going hand over to our Joint Council Co-Chairs, Senator McCarthy and Donnella Mills, who will be running through what we're doing here today and what we're looking at doing. Thankyou all for coming.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY, MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS: Thanks Suzanne. Good morning, everyone. I'd like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this land and pay my respects to Elders, past, present and emerging, and thank colleagues from across Australia for joining us for this Joint Council, both with the Coalition of Peaks, represented by Donnella Mills, as my Co-Chair, and also the ministers from across Australia. I would like to point out the ministers who are present here today, WA Minister, Don Punch, we also have the South Australian Minister, Kyam Maher, and you met Suzanne Orr, the ACT Minister. We do also have Fiona Simpson, our Queensland Minister, who's also present with us today. Other ministers will be joining us online, and naturally with Victoria in election mode, we do have a representative from the Victorian Department of Aboriginal Affairs. Today is important for us to gather. We meet twice a year. It is important to acknowledge that one target has been met. Yes, we have a long way to go, but I think it's important to point out that we have, in terms of early childhood education enrolments, and I guess what that says, is that when you work and empower First Nations organisations across the country, we can make a difference. My plea to my colleagues today will be to double down on the efforts that we need to do as ministers, not just in Aboriginal affairs, but our fellow ministers around the Cabinet tables across Australia. The National Agreement is an agreement of every Parliament, every Cabinet, including the Commonwealth. I thank my colleagues at the Commonwealth level, who work with me consistently, in terms of our Closing the Gap Working Group of ministers. And we are seriously looking at the federal funding agreements that we have with states and territories, in order to meet these targets. We've already seen, in the Northern Territory, direct funding to First Nations organisations as a result of the Northern Territory Remote Area Investment, because we want to see results. And that is significant funding that's going directly to First Nations organisations. We are very serious about wanting to close the gap. We are very serious about wanting to work with First Nations people in this country. Thank you.
DONNELLA MILLS, JOINT COUNCIL CO-CHAIR & LEAD CONVENOR, COALITION OF ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER PEAK ORGANISATIONS: Thank you all for joining us this morning. It's really lovely to be here in the nation's capital. This place is really important for all Australians. It's the place where laws and policies are made that impact all of us and in particular, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. At our last meeting for the year, we have an enormous agenda in front of us. The business of today is serious. And I really want to just take a moment to acknowledge some of the positive things that have happened during the course of this year. Shared decision-making is absolutely happening under the National Skills Agreement. Under the National Skills Agreement it creates opportunities for our community-controlled Registered Training Organisations to grow, to build local workforces, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforces, on Country, in their communities. We've been able to establish a new peak body, Our Ways Strong Together: the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence peak. Now this peak body is going to strengthen our response in relation to family, domestic and sexual violence. We've also been able to achieve early childhood services, seeing that growth, seeing our kids and our families get the support that they need in a more timely manner. Now, these achievements, in all seriousness, would not be possible without the Closing the Gap agreement in place. Now, on a more serious note, we also raise the current affordability of diesel. Now, this crisis, it is further exacerbated in remote and very remote communities. It impacts the daily lives of our people, not just in the cost of making sure that electricity works, your fridge works, you can use your electricity, but more so in the service delivery component. Often, for many of our communities there is no other alternative but diesel. So, just going to put that into perspective for you so that you can understand that in remote communities, living costs are 40% more than in the nearest town. Now, that increase of 40%, it worsens when the diesel is at $4 a litre. Today, the Remote Area Allowance, established by the Hawke Government 26 years ago, is going to be a key discussion point, to increase Remote Area Allowance. The Coalition of Peaks supports the Central Land Council, their call, alongside 30 other organisations, to significantly increase the payment to $12.30 a week. Another large discussion in Joint Council today, is on social and emotional wellbeing. The Australian Bureau of Statistics, in their recent report, are showing that death by suicide is the fifth leading cause of death or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Now more than ever, we all need to recognise the intersection between social and emotional wellbeing and racism. The recommendations coming from the parliamentary inquiry into racism, where our people and organisations have had a great deal to say in response to that enquiry. And we really look forward to the recommendations that will come out of that inquiry. The Closing the Gap message for today is really a simple one, the National Agreement on Closing the Gap gives us a clear and co-designed plan. That's a really important point. It's co-designed. So now it's the time to really buckle up and buckle down, to work together to make it a reality. Closing the Gap is so much more than just statistics, so much more than just data. It's about the real lives of our people. Thank you.
JOURNALIST: Minister McCarthy, can I start with you? We are hearing that both the Queensland and Northern Territory Governments, who aren't represented here, I understand it, right now, are blocking the United Nations from going into youth custody. They have serious concerns about overcrowding, access to fresh air, no time outside, no privacy for going to the toilet. Do you have a message for Queensland about whether the UN should be allowed to go into these facilities? And is there anything that the federal government can do in the Territory to ensure that there is this independent scrutiny?
MINISTER McCARTHY: I've certainly spoken with all Indigenous Affairs Ministers prior to Joint Council today in urging ministers to welcome the Special Rapporteur from the United Nations, to be able to sit down with him, talk through what they're able to do in terms of Closing the Gap and the National Agreement in their jurisdictions. I have spoken about that. I will speak about it again today. It is important, in my view, that the Special Rapporteur does get to visit those facilities, but also has the conversation. We come together as a Joint Council twice a year, and we intend to work always to try to close the gap. And that should also mean being unafraid to speak to the United Nations Special Rapporteur.
JOURNALIST: They can't speak here for themselves, but why do you think they are denying him access?
MINISTER McCARTHY: Oh, look, I think it's important that you put those questions directly to them. The Minister for the Northern Territory Government, Steve Edgington, will be online today. And I'm sure Minister Fiona Simpson will make herself available when she's able to. But I think, in terms of our conversation today, it will be a part of our conversation, Anna. It is important, this visit by the United Nations.
JOURNALIST: Minister Punch, can I ask you a question about the matter of Port Hedland, please? Given the gravity of the situation, why isn't the WA Government releasing the findings of its review into the DCP's involvement in the Hawke deaths?
WA MINISTER FOR ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS, DON PUNCH: The Hawke deaths are now subject to a colonial review. So, I'm not going to comment on that. It's a process to actually examine all of the information, and the Coroner will make his findings known in due course.
JOURNALIST: The DCP's review, though? Are you going to release the findings?
MINISTER PUNCH: No, I'm not going to comment at all on the Hawke matter, given that it's now before the Coroner.
JOURNALIST: Can you promise that the DCP review will be publicly released?
MINISTER PUNCH: That's a matter for the Minister for Child Protection, who has responsibility for that report. But, as I said, I'm not going to comment on that process, given the Coroner is now going to be conducting an inquiry.
JOURNALIST: So, you can't guarantee that it will be released?
MINISTER PUNCH: I'm not making any comment in relation to that. That’s a matter for the Minister for Child Protection.
JOURNALIST: For Minister McCarthy, just on this matter. Should the report be released? Is it in the public interest for that report to be released, in your view?
MINISTER McCARTHY: Look, I think it's important that the WA Government is now looking into the concerns of Mrs Papertalk. I think it's really important. This has been a difficult, and a very hard journey for her and her family, and there's still a way to go. But I do believe this will be up to the WA Government now to determine what they do next, and we just heard from Minister Punch.
JOURNALIST: When it comes to that question I asked about the Northern Territory, and the decision by the NT not to allow the United Nations into the youth detention system, is that another area where you think there may be a way the federal government can, again, potentially restrict funds or change how funding is allocated in the NT? If a Territory government is defying your wish for the UN to be able to go into those detention centres? And what direct conversations have we had with the United Nations Special Rapporteur?
MINISTER McCARTHY: In my role as Minister for Indigenous Australians, the relationship I have with the Northern Territory, in terms of funding, is through the Northern Territory Remote Area Investment. And that is over $800 million. I have made sure, through the negotiations with the Northern Territory Government, and also the Aboriginal organisations who sit at the table, a first for any federal funding agreement in Australia, that they also have authority, in terms of advising me, as to how money should be spent. Which is why they will now have around $80 million as part of that over $800 million, towards them. So that's already happening. And it's important to note that. In terms of the Special Rapporteur, I did meet with him. I met with Dr. Barume earlier this week. It was an important meeting to be able to meet with him, and also with my Co-Chair, Donnella Mills, the two of us met with him to go through the National Agreement. What we are trying to do in terms of Closing the Gap. And we were able to also brief him on other matters. I certainly raised the issue of the racism inquiry, that I wrote to the Parliament about and asked for a hearing or hearings right across Australia, and that report will be due to Parliament soon. These were very important matters to raise with him.
JOURNALIST: You now have legal groups in the NT and Queensland, in particular, saying that the federal government is not speaking with a loud enough voice on this. It's not being clear enough about its expectations on what access the UN Special Rapporteur should have, that, quote, there has been a silence. What do you say to that?
MINISTER McCARTHY: I met with the Special Rapporteur this week.
JOURNALIST: But what about the communication publicly about your expectations of the governments?
MINISTER McCARTHY: Well, I do that all the time. I think what we have to remember here is that Indigenous Affairs Ministers have a certain purview, we carry a certain amount of responsibility. When we talk about justice, we know that comes under the Attorney-General, not only the federal Attorney-General, but state and territory Attorneys-General. That's why when I stand here and I say that Closing the Gap isn't just about Indigenous Affairs Ministers. I need every single minister around every single Cabinet table in this country to step up.
JOURNALIST: So, just to clarify that funding aspect, how much of these Northern Territory’s remote funding has now been either redirected or in some way changed under your edict, because you don't think it was being spent on Closing the Gap?
MINISTER McCARTHY: How much of it? 80 million.
JOURNALIST: 80 million. And what was it changed from and to?
MINISTER McCARTHY: It is now going directly to Aboriginal organisations in the Northern Territory through APONT and we do have a representative here who would like to speak.
ABORIGINAL PEAK ORGANISATIONS NORTHERN TERRITORY CHAIR, DONNA AH CHEE: In addition to the $80 million that's coming to APONT in order to build and strengthen the Aboriginal community-controlled sector, there is also an agreement to transition funding that is going to the Northern Territory Government, to transition that money as well to Aboriginal community control. And there's been some preliminary discussions around, particularly, ear and hearing program money, as well as dental health. So, although we would like to see these things progress much quicker, there is agreement to actually move on Priority Reform Two, which is about building and strengthening the Aboriginal community-controlled sector.
JOURNALIST: And what concerns do you have about whether, at the moment, federal money is still going to the NT Government, into measures that may actually be widening the gap?
DONNA AH CHEE: Look, I think there's been a real effort in this next development of the implementation, Plan 3, to be more direct and evidence based in the actual investment, in the money that comes into the Northern Territory. So, we've been sitting at the table, with the Northern Territory Government, with the Commonwealth, about the necessity to make sure that that investment is actually going to make a difference. And I think it's really important to acknowledge here that we've got headline indicators, in terms of the CTG indicators, but we forget sometimes that, at a regional level, there is actually improvement happening. So, I think we've got to start unpackaging those indicators and acknowledging and celebrating those improvements that are actually happening at a regional level.
JOURNALIST: Minister McCarthy, can I ask you on the Remote Area Allowance side of this. You just had a direct appeal there for that to be raised. You've heard about people trapped in their communities, can't get to a health appointment, have no way to afford the basics. So will your government, it's a tough economic situation, but will your government now hear that call and fund that request?
MINISTER McCARTHY: I appreciate the strong advocacy by the Coalition of Peaks on this. We've had the Central Land Council come to the Parliament to meet with everyone. It is an important area. I know that Minister Tanya Plibersek is working to look at what is possible in these areas. We cannot give a guarantee right now, but that's not to say, we can't listen and try and look at other factors. Can I also add, though, we are working on other areas, like the food security area, in terms of reducing the cost of foods, on 30 essential items across 120 remote stores to try to improve cost of living issues. We're also doing that, obviously, in the rolling out of remote jobs. We've rolled out 3,000 jobs, or 3,000 that are allocated. That is a tremendous achievement in terms of our goals. We now are embarking on the next 3,000 and we've also been seen a massive increase in Rangers across Australia, in terms of employment. We're very mindful of all these costs. Can I just also add that we had the Clause 64 enacted in the Closing the Gap National Agreement. Clause 64 is focussed on food and fuel security. So just this week, we met with stakeholders right across remote and regional Australia, with First Nations communities, to keep ahead of what we can see coming in terms of these needs, and the Remote Area Allowance is also being raised in these forms.
JOURNALIST: Is it possible just to get a very brief comment from the state and territory ministers who are here, very brief, reacting to the request from Noel Pearson earlier this year, about whether or not remote communities should be run entirely federally, and that state and territory departments should be dismantled? What, at this point, with all the information you know about Closing the Gap and how difficult it is to achieve, do you think there's merit in that idea?
SA MINISTER FOR ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS AND DEPUTY PREMIER, KYAM MAHER: From South Australia, we have some very, very remote communities. I spent most of this week on Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara Country in the centre of Australia. I think it's about working together. I don't think it's about state governments giving all responsibility to federal government or vice versa. I think there are roles that both can and should play. And we've had a very constructive working relationship with the federal Labor government and Minister McCarthy, as Malarndirri talked about, particularly in terms of food security and providing subsidies in those really remote areas where prices of food are far too expensive.
MINISTER PUNCH: Western Australia has the one of the largest jurisdictions in the world. A very large number of remote communities. All of the feedback that I get from local communities is about working in partnerships, about collaboration. We have a very strong relationship with Minister McCarthy, and communication and collaboration are the key to progress. So, from our point of view, it's always going to be a joint collaboration with the federal government.
AUSTRALIAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT, MATT BURNETT: One more. There's another level of government that's included here, and that's local government. And direct funding to local government can help resolve a lot of funding issues about Closing the Gap. We have 17 Indigenous councils in Queensland. We have Indigenous councils in the Northern Territory that are majority First Nations people, so direct funding to local government could help resolve a lot of problems around Closing the Gap, and we're about to talk about that right now. Thank you.