PRIME MINISTER
SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P. J. KEATING MP
COMM( ONWEALTH RESPONSE TO THE ROYAL COMMISSION INTO
ABORIGINAL DEATHS IN CUSTODY, 24 JUNE 1992
Mr Speaker
I seek leave to make a Parliamentary Statement on the
Commonwealth's response to the Royal Commission into
Aboriginal Deaths in Custody
Mr Speaker
On 26 February, I presented the One Nation Statement. In
it, I announced measures to help close the gaps which for
so long have separated Australians.
I said then that all our efforts should go towards
uniting the country. I also said we should combine a
more efficient economy with a fairer and more equitable
society. 27 May was the 25th Anniversary of the 1967 referendum to
give the Commonwealth the power to legislate for
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
On that occasion I said that, as a nation, we have not
yet succeeded in meeting the challenge set by the
triumphant referendum result.
Today, there is no more central issue to our national
identity and self-esteem than the injustices brought home
to us all by the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths
in Custody.
There is nothing more central to our reputation in the
world. Or to the kind of democratic, just society to which we
aspire. Mr Speaker
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The needs are clear.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have about
half the average yearly income of other Australians.
Participation by Aboriginal young people in post-school
education is around a fifth of the rate for
non-Aboriginal young people.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in all age
groups have mortality rates almost three times higher
than for the overall population.
The custody rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people is 29 times that of the general community.
These few statistics give some idea of what the Royal
Commission called " the disadvantaged and unequal
position" of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
in all aspects of Australian society.
The Commonwealth sees the Report of the Royal Commission
into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody as a national
opportunity for genuine change in the lives of
Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
On behalf of the Government, I would like to say again
how much we appreciate the work of the Royal
Commissioners and their staff.
Their work documented a tragic waste of life.
The Royal Commission investigated the deaths of ninetynine
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in
custody. But at least thirty more Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people have died in custody since the Royal
Commission finished its investigations.
I know that nothing can remove the grief, anger and loss
felt by the families, relatives and friends of those who
died. But it is fundamentally important that the Royal
Commission found the real killer.
The responsibility lies in large measure with entrenched,
institutionalised racism and discrimination.
Those who died were victims of over two centuries of
dispossession, prejudice and neglect.
We cannot evade these harsh truths. Nor should we.
But we can work to change them.
On 31 March this year Robert Tickner, the Minister for
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, tabled
responses by the Commonwealth and all mainland State and
Territory Governments to the Royal Commission into
Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.
This kind of cooperation is a truly national achievement,
crossing boundaries of jurisdiction and politics.
Its importance cannot be minimised.
In our response to the Royal Commission, the Commonwealth
supported all but one of the Royal Commission's
recommendations.
We allocated $ 150 million over five years for law and
justice initiatives and to assist Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander people in their own efforts to overcome
alcohol and substance abuse.
Today I am proud to announce the second stage of the
Commonwealth's response a concerted attack on the
economic and social disadvantage which is reflected
nowhere more starkly than in the numbers of Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander people in custody.
And a renewal of our commitment to empower Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islanders.
These measures entail an additional $ 250 million over
five years, taking the total Commonwealth expenditure in
response to the Royal Commission, over five years, to
$ 400 million.
In difficult times, this level of funds is not easy to
find. But the need must be faced.
Mr Speaker
The Royal Commission's report described the efforts,
initiatives and dedication of Aboriginal people and
communities and organisations across Australia to protect
their culture, restore self-esteem and achieve real
equality. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are taking
control of their lives and communities.
They are demonstrating the will for renewal and for selfdetermination.
Today the Government reaffirms its support for these
Australians. The concepts " self-determination" and " renewal" are
increasingly a reality.
The structures are there to ensure both their effect and
their survival.
Elected Commissioners of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Commission now make national decisions in
Aboriginal Affairs.
Sixty elected Regional Councils now make decisions on
priorities, needs and funding for their areas.
The knowledge and expertise of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander organisations are now vital. in developing
and delivering important Commonwealth programs and
services. Mr Speaker
From the beginning, the ATSIC Commissioners had a major
role in shaping the responses by Governments to the Royal
Commission. I would like to express the Commonwealth's gratitude to
the Chairperson of ATSIC, Miss Lois O'Donoghue, and to
the Commissioners for their dedication.
I would particularly like to thank the Commissioners and
Regional Councils of ATSIC for their efforts over many
months of consultations and negotiations to ensure the
best possible responses by Governments to the Royal
Commission. The ATSIC Commissioners were closely involved in
developing the measures I am announcing today and
endorsed this package of measures before it was
considered by Cabinet.
I would also like to recognise the energy and dedication
of the Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Affairs, Mr Robert Tickner.
His contribution has been extraordinarily valuable and
central in responding to the Royal Commission.
The initiatives I announce today constitute a renewed
attack on economic and social disadvantages among
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
These are initiatives with a difference in that they
are firmly based on the notions of empowerment and selfdetermination.
No real change is possible without the energy and will of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people themselves.
Imposed solutions will not work.
This has been the fundamental flaw in many previous,
well-intentioned policies.
We are focusing on the future on economic development
and on Aboriginal young people.
We are working for increased income in Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations,
thus reducing dependence.
We have balanced this strong emphasis on economic
development with equally strong initiatives in social and
cultural self-determination.
These initiatives will mean more jobs, enterprise
opportunities and more training for Aboriginal people.
They will raise community and individual incomes.
They will improve community living standards.
They will increase community self-reliance.
They will address the needs so clearly set out in the
Royal Commission's report.
Mr Speaker, I turn now to the detailed economic
development aspects of this package.
million over five years will be provided for a land
acquisition and development program.
It will provide the capital resources and training for
better use and sustainable development of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander land.
$ 6.6 million over the next three years will be directed
to an Aboriginal Rural Resources program to encourage
enterprise, particularly in managing pastoral properties.
A Community Economic Initiative Scheme, costing $ 23.3
million over five years, will foster local enterprises.
The Australian National Parks and Wildlife contract
employment program for managing natural and cultural
resources will be expanded at a cost of $ 10.6 million
over five years.
ATSIC will develop long-term Aboriginal industry
strategies in the pastoral, arts and tourism industries.
million over five years will be provided for these
strategies, to draw together and build on existing
initiatives.
The Community Development Employment Program will be
expanded at a cost of $ 43.9 million over five years.
This will ensure an increased emphasis on incomegeneration
and will enable CDEP to better meet the needs
of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and young
people.
A Young Peoples' Employment Program will be established,
at a cost of $ 21.9 million, to provide work placements
largely within Aboriginal organisations and linked to
TAFE training.
The total cost of these economic development initiatives
is $ 181.1 million over five years.
They will make a difference because they ARE different.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will shape
and control them.
Mr Speaker, I now turn to the youth aspects of the
package. A Young Peoples' Development Program will be
established, at a cost of $ 23 million over five years, to
encourage planned community action to meet the specific
needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young
people.
We will set up an Aboriginal Youth Sport and Recreation
Development Program at a cost of $ 9 million over five
years. This initiative will provide Aboriginal sports
development officers to work in communities.
million over five years will be provided for 200
additional Aboriginal Education Workers from 1993.
million will be provided for 600 more pre-school
places for Aboriginal children from 1994.
We will also work for better Aboriginal access to preschools.
These measures respond directly to the strong views of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people that their
children are their future.
All Australians can understand and share this view.
Mr Speaker
We will also provide $ 6.9 million over five years for
measures to improve cooperation between the Commonwealth,
States and Territories and to assist them to monitor
initiatives arising from the Royal Commission.
We have already announced that ATSIC will monitor
progress by Governments in implementing the Royal
Commission' s recommendations.
These processes will be public and will continue our
commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
participation. The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission will
also report annually on the human rights situation of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in
Australia. The Commonwealth Government cannot, alone, eliminate the
disadvantage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people.
Aboriginal affairs is the concern of all Australians and
their Governments.
For real change, Commonwealth, State, Territory and Local
Governments must work together with Aboriginal
communities and organisations.
We are making progress. On May 11, Heads of Government
endorsed a framework for intergovernmental cooperation in
Aboriginal affairs.
The Commonwealth is working with State, Territory and
Local Governments to put this cooperative framework into
action. We will develop, with the States and Territories, a
National Aboriginal Policy Statement and negotiate joint
responsibility agreements in specific areas.
These arrangements will take some time to put in place.
However, our discussions with the States, Territories and
Local Government on the response to the Royal Commission
have emphasised the need for real cooperative planning
and delivery.
Among the measures I have announced today, the Rural
Resources, Australian National Parks and Wildlife
Contract Employment, Sport and Recreation and education
initiatives all involve funding or delivery through the
States and Territories.
Local Government is also actively involved in the
intergovernmental cooperative framework now accepted by
Heads of Government.
It would confer a great advantage on our efforts if local
government were to actively participate in our
initiatives. We will continue to encourage practical cooperation
between Local Government and Aboriginal communities and
organisations particularly the sixty ATSIC Regional
Councils across Australia.
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Mr Speaker
Last year, by Act of Parliament supported by all
political parties, we established the Council for
Aboriginal Reconciliation.
In itself, this is evidence of the desire for justice
among Australians.
I have great faith in the Council and its Chairperson,
former Royal Commissioner, Mr Patrick Dodson.
I think the Council offers Australia its greatest chance
of learning that there is no true loyalty or affection
for this country that does not include respect for
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
Mr Speaker
These issues are central to our nation and its future.
They are also urgent.
As a nation, we face the challenge of the consequences of
dispossession, conquest, brutal treatment and equally
inhuman neglect of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people the first Australians.
As I have said more than once in recent months, in this
last decade of the 20th century there is no greater goal
for Australians than the delivery of long overdue justice
to Aboriginal people.
The Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody
reminded us of that.
This year should be the turning point: the year when as a
people we decide that if we are to be truly one nation,
true to our traditions and ideals, then by the year 2000
justice wil have been delivered, and the shame removed.