Northern Territory Labor Senator Trish Crossin says Indigenous people
are still unclear about the Government's changes to Indigenous affairs.
The Senate select committee that is reviewing the legislation covering
the abolition of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission
(ATSIC) has reconvened and is expected to submit its report in March
next year.
The committee was disbanded in the lead-up to the federal election.
Its inquiry had already held public hearings and received more than 200
submissions.
While few defended ATSIC, there was widespread concern over the transfer
of funding to government departments.
There was also extensive support for a nationally elected Indigenous
group to lobby Government, rather than the Government-appointed council.
Senator Crossin, who is also a committee member, says changes already
made, such as the Indigenous coordination centres, are causing confusion.
"We're unsure exactly how the model is going to work and Indigenous
people are very unclear about it," she said.
"This is one avenue in which all of those positions can be put on the
table so people can clearly find out what's happening and can voice
either support or concern for it." |
