PM Transcripts

PRESS STATEMENT NO. 32
January 1973
ABORIGINAL ADVANCEMENT
The Australian Government decided today to allocate
a further $ 10.85 million for Aboriginal Advancement projects in
1972/ 73. Federal Cabinet decided that most of the extra
allocation would be divided to expansion of advancement programs
through the States, by way of supplementary Grants under Section
96 of the Constitution. The decision followed a submission to
Cabinet by the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Bryant.
Grants totalling $ 14.5 million in 1972/ 73 were
authorised by the States Grants ( Aboriginal Advancement) Act
1972 but a substantially greater sum could have been used
particularly on housing and on special works projects.
Apart from grants for the expansion program through
the States, funds are needed to meet other urgent proposals
involving direct funding by the Commonwealth. Included among
these is the cost of implementing, during the rest of 1972/ 73,
an A. L. P. policy undertaking to meet all legal costs of Aborigines
appearing before the courts.
It is estimated that $ 850,000 will be needed to meet
these costs during the rest of the current financial year.
A sum of $ 1.5 million which was pledged to Western
Australia for Aboriginal housing on December 11 will be part of
the extra $ 10.85 million allocation.
CANBERRA, A. C. T.