3. Social Justice Policies and Equity

3.1. Regional Autonomy

In Australia, regional autonomy has been discussed (at the national level) for four regions: 

  • Torres Strait 

  • The Tiwi Islands 

  • The Miwatj region in Arnhem Land 

  • The Murdi Paaki ATSIC region in New South Wales 

In these examples, Indigenous people see autonomy as something that would mostly apply to Indigenous-specific services. In the Torres Strait consideration is being given to a form of regional autonomy that might apply to all the people in the region.  

The example of Murdi Paaki in New South Wales Indigenous people may well view autonomy in terms of passing more economic power to the regions. 

In general, the examples suggest that Indigenous views of economic autonomy include increased control over Indigenous-specific funding. The only exception to this is in Torres Strait where one goal is greater Indigenous control of local fisheries.  

There is a significant difference between Indigenous and government views of the economic aspects of autonomy. Governments consider political autonomy might reduce welfare costs through greater regional efficiencies or increased Indigenous participation in the economy. 

Regional autonomy is discussed as autonomy for a place or for peoples; one applying to all people in a region, the other only to the indigenous peoples in the region. This already applies to some extent with regional Land Councils. 

Some examples of models for self-government and regional autonomy that have operated or proposed to operate in Australia include: 

  • Aboriginal Land Councils 

  • The Uluru Statement from the Heart 

  • The Masig Statement seeks to achieve regional autonomy for the Torres Strait and the Northern Peninsula by 2037  

  • Aboriginal Regional Authority SA Policy (now defunct and to be replaced with SA First Nations Voice to Parliament) 

  • National Voice to Parliament 

In March 2016, the South Australian Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Kyam Maher, presented that State’s first Aboriginal Regional Authority Policy, recognizing the importance of supporting Aboriginal leadership and governance in the State. The SA Government is no longer pursuing the Aboriginal Regional Authority Policy but has committed to a state-based implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, which calls for Voice, Treaty and Truth. 

Implementation of the Uluru Statement will commence with the SA First Nations Voice to Parliament. The SA Parliament passed the First Nations Voice Bill 2023 earlier this year which will create the SA Voice as a connected, direct and independent line of communication for First Nations people to SA’s Parliament and Government. The SA Voice will be made up of six Local First Nations Voices and a State First Nations Voice. Aboriginal people living in SA will be able to vote for their Local First Nations Voice representative at the inaugural elections on 16 March 2024. 

Work to implement the Treaty and Truth aspects of the Uluru Statement will commence once the SA Voice is established.   

 

More information on The Masig Statement: 

 

See details on some of the models listed above in the following links: 

 

Equitable Outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples  

Policies and programs aiming for more equitable outcomes for Aboriginal peoples, have achieved poor and variable effectiveness. Poverty, poor health and other indicators of disadvantage remain for Aboriginal Peoples. Cultural misunderstandings and differing values systems have historically made equitable outcomes difficult to achieve.  

Ten years in, the Closing the Gap campaign has helped the Government learn some vital lessons for where their well-meaning assistance and support has failed. Though here is still a very long way to go, the key element to success is (of course) consultation.  

Areas where movement in the right direction has been achieved are those where Aboriginal peoples have been involved in all stages consultation processes. This means that regional and cultural perspectives are not lost throughout the process. 

 

Review the examples in the Closing the Gap Prime Minister’s Report 2022 in the following link: 

 

Consider the following question in preparation for your weekly Q&A sessions with your trainer: 

 

Question: What kinds of skills do you need to gain, to ensure that consultative processes make a real difference? 

Look at the Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation’s Rangers program summary in the following link: 

 

Question: What other issues and progress can be gained from this kind of collaboration? 

Question: How do these processes work to gain more equitable outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander peoples?