The Changing Federal Policy Environment: Implications for Indigenous Governance

1
The Changing Federal Policy Environment
Implications for Indigenous Governance
Brian Stacey - NT State Manager
2
NEW GOVERNMENT ARRANGEMENTS
What are they?

• New approaches in the way government does
  business to get meaningful outcomes for
  Indigenous people
• Streamlined program and service delivery
• Shared responsibility
• Shift in the way government engages with
  Indigenous communities

3
NEW GOVERNMENT ARRANGEMENTS

• Implications for indigenous governance should be
  positive
• Recognise the significance of governance on
  communities
• as a key foundation

4
Maybe for the first time.

• It may be the first time that there has been
  formal recognition of the importance of
  governance.
• Success of Australian Government in supporting
  indigenous community governance is mixed
• Evident in priorities of the Ministerial
  Taskforce
• New overarching Agreement between Australian
  Government and the NT Government

5
OTHER DEVELOPMENTS

• Amendments to Aboriginal Councils and Association
  Act 1976 (ACA Act)
• Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage report 2003
• OIPC Panel of Experts

6
STRENGTHS OF NEW ARRANGEMENTS

• Direct engagement with Indigenous communities

7
WEAKNESSES OF NEW ARRANGEMENTS

• Facilitation of coordinated responses to
  governance support when programs have been
  transferred into different mainstream agencies

8
OPPORTUNITIES

• More resources potentially for governance
• Use Shared Responsibility Agreements (SRAs) to
  provide additional governance support

9
THREATS

• Too much focus on
• compliance and accountability
• rather than
• learning and development

10
NEW REGIONAL REPRESENTATION ARRANGEMENTS POST
ATSIC

• Joint approach with Northern Territory Government
• Linked to Regional Partnership Agreements (RPAs)
  
• Funding for consultation and leadership
  development
• Ongoing elected statutory structures will not be
  funded
• Approach will evolve and new structures may not
  be in place at 1 July