>> Self-determination

Statement on ATSIC : Dr William Jonas AM

William Jonas, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, HREOC, says the Liberal government is treating ATSIC as a scapegoat for the failures of successive Australian governments. The abolishment of ATSIC will silence Indigenous people at a national level.

View the Jonas statement on HREOC's website

ACOSS submission to the ATSIC Review

Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS) submission to the Review of Indigenous Participation in the Development of Commonwealth Policies and Programmes. Outlines the importance of Indigenous democratic government and self-determination.

Download the ACOSS submission as a PDF (167KB)

COALS submission to the ATSIC Review

Coalition of Aboriginal Legal Services of New South Wales (COALS) submission to the ATSIC Review. The submission concludes that, in whatever course of action the Government may take in relation to ATSIC, it is essential that ATSILS retain a Regional and community base. It is further suggested that the consideration of the relationship between ATSILS and Regional Councils will encourage community control of service delivery in regional areas.

Download the COALS submission as a PDF (551KB)

Governance for sustainable development: Strategic issues and principles for Indigenous Australian communities

A paper by M. Dodson and D.E. Smith for the Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research. This Discussion Paper examines the concepts of 'governance', 'good governance' and 'sustainable development' in the context of Australian Indigenous communities and regions. It explores the hypothesis that there is vital link between governance and sustainable development.

Download the paper as a PDF (336KB)

ATSIC Review Website

The site displays information about the Review, lists submissions, media releases by the Review panel, and a copy of the final report. The panel presented its final report to the Government in November 2003.

Visit the ATSIC Review website

Key Issues Papers - Controlling Destinies
Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation (CAR)

'Controlling destinies' is an important issue for all Australians, and particularly for indigenous Australians, since one of the most long-standing impositions that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have endured from governments and others is external control, management and direction. From the earliest days of relocation from traditional lands, through 'protective' isolation and then assimilation policies, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were denied their right to be self-determining within Australia's economic, social, political and legal structures. Indigenous Australians were also given little or no opportunity to contribute to the content of the foundation governing structures of the nation, such as the Federal Constitution and state Constitutions, which were created after colonisation. 'Self-determination' became Federal government policy as recently as 1972. This document contains chapters from different authors on various matters concerning self-determination.

Download the paper as an RTF file (153KB)

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