NIT Shop
 

  
  NIT Shop

  Subscriptions
  Blog  
  Breaking News

  News

  Opinion
  The Arts
  Classroom

  Business
  Community
  Sport
  Travel
  ePostcard
  Links
  Back Issues
  Photo Gallery
  About Us
  Jobs   Downloads  

  Issue 194








* A NOTE TO OUR ONLINE READERS:

The multi-award winning National Indigenous Times is an independent newspaper and receives no government funding whatsoever. Our print edition is published every fortnight, but because of the public interest nature of our reporting, we ensure all of our stories are available online at no cost. Thus, we rely entirely on advertising and subscriptions to survive, and hope you'll consider subscribing to NIT's print edition to help us continue our work, or even just browse our Online Shop.

  News

 

Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator Amanda Vanstone.

EXCLUSIVE: NIC claims false, leaked cabinet document reveals
Issue 67 - 27 Oct 2004

EXCLUSIVE by Chris Graham

NATIONAL, November 8: Claims by the federal government that the newly-appointed National Indigenous Council (NIC) is not a replacement for ATSIC are false, according to a leaked confidential federal cabinet document obtained by NIT.

The NIC was announced on Saturday by Indigenous Affairs Minister, Amanda Vanstone. It is a 14 member government appointed board, whereas ATSIC was a democratically elected representative body.

Saturday’s statement, issued on behalf of Senator Vanstone, reads:

“The Minister stressed the NIC is not a replacement for ATSIC and not intended to be a representative body.

“Members of the NIC were not selected on the basis that they represent any specific region, organisation or agency. They will be presenting their views as individuals, based on their areas of expertise.

“While the NIC will play a crucial role in providing advice to the Government, it will not be the sole source of advice about Indigenous matters.”

But a federal cabinet-in-confidence document on the abolition of ATSIC, dated April 7, 2004 tells a very different story (it was revealed by NIT last week – see link below for original story)

On three occasions it refers to the NIC as the Indigenous body to replace ATSIC.

It says:
• “This paper… proposes… abolishing ATSIC and replacing it with an appointed National Indigenous Council to advise government on indigenous policy

• … it is proposed that the ATSIC Board be abolished and replaced with a National Indigenous Council.

• It is recommended that Cabinet consider agreeing to legislation being introduced as soon as possible in the Budget sittings to abolish the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) Board and replace it with a non-statutory and government appointed National Indigenous Council to provide policy advice to government.”

The same cabinet-in-confidence document also misleads Prime Minister John Howard’s cabinet as to the true nature of Indigenous support for the NIC, claiming Cape York leader Noel Pearson had supported a government-appointed model.

Mr Pearson strongly opposed the idea, calling it a “kitchen cabinet” and arguing for an elected chair of any replacement to ATSIC.

Senator Vanstone’s office declined to comment on the latest revelations, referring NIT to a response Senator Vanstone issued last week, in relation to the Pearson story: "The government doesn't respond to the contents of confidential material leaked by someone with a personal axe to grind."

• The next edition of NIT, available in newsagencies around the nation from Wednesday, will include a profile of the new NIC, along with more revelations about government neglect and waste in Aboriginal Affairs, based on more leaked federal cabinet documents.




http://www.nit.com.au/news/story.aspx?id=3697

Printer Friendly Version  Email Story to a FriendSubmit Letter to Editor

 

  More News

Commonwealth strikes deal to takeover Ilpeye Ilpeye
Greens, opposition slam Rudd for delayed report card
Naden still on the run as the Scholes family longs for justice
Wild Rivers more important than climate change: Macdonald
Indigenous All Stars recruited to help fight truancy
Aboriginal victims to sue British over nuclear tests
Scholarships to close soon
Walden family handed Report
My School website proves popular
Emergency funds given in the wake of outback "loan shark"
ailing funds better spent on community programs: report
Investigation into death in custody
Native title changes "water down rights"
Campaign launched to warn young people of STIs
Long wait on claims: expert
Sarra calls for conversation on date change
French courts the idea of an Indigenous judge
Survival Day festival praised
Rudd's nephew joins Oz day protest in KKK outfit
Keneally family split over Oz Day, flag and anthem
Red Cross to start successful RespectED program
Rudd announces fever funding
Bran Nue Dae pulling in the crowds; makes $2.6 million
Black arm band to go to Olympics
Decline in child vaccination rates putting us at risk: doc
WORLD: Aboriginal groups divided over cost of Winter Olympics
WORLD: Morales sworn in for second term
WORLD: Harawira blames media for uproar
WORLD: Indigenous leader attacked
WORLD: First Yanomami HIV case confirmed