2009 Media Release: Radical new approach announced for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs
PORTFOLIO: Attorney-General's
http://www.humanrights.gov.au/about/media/media_releases/2009/80_09.html
SNIPPET: A new representative body independent from government, with an equal number of men and women in leadership roles and reliance on strict ethical standards are among the key elements of a ground-breaking new approach to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs proposed today by a Steering Committee led by Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma. Today is a day when, as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, we begin a new journey and express our determination to put our future in our hands, Commissioner Calma said.

Indigenous Childcare: Evaluation of the Law and Justice Advocacy Development Program
(27/8/2009) Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Lindsay Tanner today announced thepublication of an evaluation of the Attorney General’s Law and Justice AdvocacyDevelopment program.
http://www.financeminister.gov.au/media/2009/mr_552009.html

We never never seem to learn
Government edicts alone will never change behaviour in Aboriginal communities
gIndigenous Affairs - Rollo Manning - posted 9/7/2009

Funding the Indigenous visual arts sector
Peter Garrett - Minister for Environment, Heritage and The Arts - Media Statement - 08-07-2009

$3.3 million boost to Indigenous heritage protection - media release 7 July 2009
PORTFOLIO: Environment, Water, Heritage and the ArtsURL: http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/garrett/2009/mr20090707.html
Funding for 50 Indigenous heritage projects through the Australian Government's Indigenous Heritage Program , was announced today by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, Peter Garrett. The Indigenous Heritage Program is delivered in cooperation with the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs ( FaHCSIA ) and Indigenous Coordination Centres ( ICC s) as part of the whole of government delivery of services to Indigenous Australians.

$1.5 million for NAIDOC Week activities
Jenny Macklin - Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs - Media Statement - 05-07-2009

APO Research

Reported gambling problems in the Indigenous and total Australian population
Gambling Research Australia 01 July, 2009 This study investigated factors that correlate with gambling-related problems among the Indigenous population. There are significant variations between states and territories in the percentage of Indigenous people reporting gambling related problems for themselves or their family and social networks.

Gaps in Australia's Indigenous language policy: dismantling bilingual education in the Northern Territory
Jane Simpson, Jo Caffery, Patrick McConvell Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies29 June, 2009 Young children learn best when taught through their mother tongue. This commonsense principle has been supported by decades of research on bilingual education for children who don't speak the dominant language.

Select committee on regional and remote Indigenous communities: second report 2009
Marise Payne Senate Select Committee on Regional and Remote Indigenous Communities30 June, 2009 On 19 March 2008 the Senate resolved to appoint a Select Committee on Regional and Remote Indigenous Communities to inquire into and report on: a. the effectiveness of Australian Government policies following the Northern Territory Emergency Response

Health Care Boost for Indigenous Australians
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/mr-yr09-ws-ws006.htm
Health care for Indigenous Australians received a significant boost on 1July with the int...

Will COAG deliver on Indigenous health?
PORTFOLIO: Attorney-General's http://www.humanrights.gov.au/about/media/media_releases/2009/58_09.html
For the first time, COAG is holding a meeting with a focus on Indigenous issues. Associate Professor Tamara Mackean, President of the Australian Indigenous Doctors Association, also welcomed the Indigenous focus of this COAG meeting.

Linking Indigenous Policy with Service Delivery 2009
LOCATION: Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort, Cairns
ORGANISED BY: Criterion Conferences25 August, 2009
Despite an enormous injection of funding into Indigenous housing, health and education, the conversion of new policies into improved service delivery is not as transparent as the Rudd government's enthusiasm to improve Indigenous circumstances.

Timeframe for Alice Springs town camps

APO Research

The capacity of Indigenous community housing organisationsKarel Eringa Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute11 May, 2009 Remote location, inadequate governance procedures and lack of economies of scale undermine the organisational performance of indigenous community housing organisations.

A woman's place ...Megan Davis Griffith REVIEW11 May, 2009 Megan Davis brings feminist arguments to Indigenous politics in this essay, timely with the recent recommendations for equal representation for women on the next national Indigenous policy board.

Next steps for Indigenous jobs reforms

The Minister for Employment Participation, Brendan O'Connor, today announced the next step in reforms to employment services for Indigenous Australians.
Mr O'Connor said reforms to the Indigenous Employment Program (IEP) will begin on 1 July 2009 and build on recent reforms of universal employment services.

The reforms are key to making progress on the Government's aim of halving the employment gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians within a decade. This will require an extra 100,000 Indigenous Australians to find and keep work.

The Government has consulted widely with Indigenous Australians and their communities, Indigenous and non-Indigenous business and with service providers.

Performance audit of Centrecorp Aboriginal Investment

Performance audit of Centrecorp Aboriginal Investment Corporation Pty Ltd
PORTFOLIO: Finance and Deregulation
SNIPPET: Lindsay Tanner, Minister for Finance and Deregulation announced the tabling of a new report completed by the Office of Evaluation and Audit (Indigenous Programs) in the Department of Finance and Deregulation yesterday. The report is an audit report on Centrecorp Aboriginal Investment Corporation Pty Ltd (Centrecorp). Centrecorp is a private company established by the Central Land Council, Tangentyere Council Inc and Central Australian Aboriginal Congress to further the economic and social development of Aboriginal people in Central Australia.

Taking the leadership of Indigenous women to the world

PORTFOLIO: Attorney-General's
SNIPPET: Commissioner Broderick said that there is growing concern around the world that women will fare badly in the current economic crisis, that initiatives aimed at promoting gender equality will begin to be abandoned and that already vulnerable people will experience increased hardship. At this event, the women of Fitzroy Crossing have told their powerful story of leadership and change to an international audience..

$396 million for remote Indigenous housing in NSW

Remote Indigenous communities in New South Wales will benefit from a $396 million investment in housing over the next ten years to improve living standards for families and children.

The funding allocation is central to the landmark $1.94 billion Council of Australian Governments' commitment to remote Indigenous housing.

Closing the gap on Indigenous disadvantage: The challenge for Australia

On 26 February 2009 the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made his first annual statement to Parliament on the Australian Government's Closing the Gap strategy, outlining whole-of-government objectives and strategies.

That statement was supported by a booklet outlining the whole of government approaches to Closing the Gap, as well as detailing National Partnerships and engagement with corporate Australia.

Indigenous Australians readied for defence

By Australian Labor Party

Jenny Macklin - Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Brendan O'Connor - Minister for Employment Participation Warren Snowdon - Minister for Defence Science and Personnel - Media Statement - 02-03-2009


Warren SnowdonThe Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, the Hon. Warren Snowdon MP, the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, the Hon. Jenny Macklin MP and the Minister for Employment Participation, the Hon. Brendan O'Connor MP, today announced the start of the Defence Indigenous Pre Recruitment Course (IPRC) in Newcastle, NSW.

Mr Snowdon said the Defence Indigenous Pre-Recruitment Course is one of the early initiatives to be rolled out from the Australian Defence Force (ADF) Indigenous Employment Strategy.

Government Announcements

$58.3m boost for Indigenous eye and ear health
By Australian Labor Party
Kevin Rudd - Prime Minister Jenny Macklin - Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs - Media Statement - 26-02-2009

Coordinator General for remote Indigenous services
By Australian Labor Party
Kevin Rudd - Prime Minister Jenny Macklin - Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs - Media Statement - 26-02-2009

Closing the Gap Report

TITLE: Prime Minister of Australia - Speech - Closing the Gap Report
PORTFOLIO: Prime Minister and Cabinet
SNIPPET: I acknowledge the First Australians on whose lands we meet, and whose cultures we celebrate as the oldest continuing cultures in human history. In December, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education said she was ``hit in the guts' by the latest figures on the extent of illiteracy among Indigenous students in remote Australia. Mr Speaker I now table the first annual report on Closing the Gap on Indigenous Disadvantage: The Challenge for Australia.

Proposed minor native title amendments

Attorney General's Department
In December 2008 the federal government that during 2009 it will introduce amendments to give the Federal Court a central role in managing all native title claims. This paper outlines the proposed changes. Posted 11-02-2009

Major steps towards better Indigenous housing

The Australian and Northern Territory Governments welcome the Northern Land Council’s decision to approve the granting of housing leases in the NT communities of Galiwin’ku, Gunbalanya, Maningrida and Wadeye.

The agreement follows extensive community consultation and collaboration between the Northern Land Council, communities and both governments and is a major step towards better housing for remote communities.