2.9: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body

Ensure that Indigenous members of our community have a strong elected voice, delivered through a representative body which understands and can represent their specific interests and aspirations.

Other Information:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders across Australia were excluded from decision-making and political processes by the abolition of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission. The ACT Government believes it is essential that Indigenous members of our community have a strong elected voice, delivered through a representative body which understands and can represent their specific interests and aspirations. The ACT Government has established the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body to ensure that Indigenous people living in the ACT participate in developing and implementing government policies that affect them. Following extensive community consultations in 2006 and 2007, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body Act 2008 was passed in the ACT Assembly and came into effect on 15 May 2008. On 2 July 2008 the ACT Electoral Commissioner announced the successful candidates for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body, who will work with the ACT Government and its agencies to achieve positive outcomes for the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. Seven members including a chair and deputy chair are required to report to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs on issues of concern for the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. The ACT Government will consider, in consultation with the Aboriginal community, negotiating an Aboriginal Justice Agreement between the Indigenous community, the justice sector and other relevant agencies. It would encompass, but not be limited to, resources and policies to provide access to justice, to set up culturally appropriate ways of dealing with offenders and victims through the criminal justice process, and to adopt integrated approaches aimed at reducing rates of incarceration and recidivism.

Indicator(s):

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