Appendix 1
List of Recommendations
Recommendations from Second Report
Recommendation
1
3.27 The
committee recommends that COAG make a concerted effort to improve the quality
and scope of existing data collections on regional and remote Indigenous
communities and urges all departments and agencies to routinely utilise the
expertise of dedicated statistical agencies such as the ABS and AIHW when
collecting and analysing data to ensure that it is consistent and accurate
across all jurisdictions.
Recommendation
2
4.71 That
the Commonwealth government increase access to alcohol and other drug
detoxification, treatment and rehabilitation services across the Northern
Territory, ensuring that there is ongoing support for individuals after they
have accessed programs and services.
Recommendation
3
4.203 The
committee recommends that the Commonwealth government review its overall
communication strategy for regional and remote Indigenous communities with the
view to making information available to communities on an ongoing and regular
basis and in an accessible way. In the instance of the SIHIP program the
communication strategy should provide information on how the decision to fund
housing in the priority communities was made, as well as regular information on
how the construction of this new housing is progressing.
Recommendation
4
4.228 That
in communities without access to a local store licensed to accept the
BasicsCard, alternative arrangements should be made so that people are able to
access income managed funds at their local store. This could be in the form of
a temporary arrangement with the store until the licensing process can be
completed.
Recommendation
5
4.232 The
committee recommends that in order to be licensed as a merchant for the
BasicsCard, FaHCSIA make it a condition of license that roadhouses within the
Petrol Sniffing Strategy Central Desert Region and feeder sites to this region
sell Opal fuel.
Recommendation
6
4.256 The
committee recommends that the Commonwealth commit to longer term program
funding so that organisations can enjoy greater funding certainty and offer
staff greater job security. This is especially the case in relation to
organisations who have established relationships with funding bodies and good
risk management strategies in place.
Recommendation
7
5.31 That
the Commonwealth and South Australian governments provide additional funding
and appropriate support to the Homemakers Centres in the APY Lands so that all
seven centres are operating at an effective level and that the Commonwealth
government consider supporting similar Homemakers Centres in other remote
Indigenous communities as a matter of priority.
Recommendation
8
5.49 That
the Commonwealth Attorney-General's office undertake discussions with the South
Australian government with a view to the South Australian government
undertaking a review of the Magistrates Court Circuit on the APY Lands to
ensure its ongoing effectiveness.
Recommendation
9
5.112 Recognising
that access to numeracy and literacy training in regional and remote Indigenous
communities is limited but given that it plays a fundamental role, the
committee recommends that the Commonwealth government, in consultation with
state and territory governments, prioritise the implementation of basic and
appropriate adult literacy and numeracy programs in order to address the
current identified need.
Recommendation
10
5.125 The
committee recommends that the Northern Territory government review the high
levels of custodial sentences in the Northern Territory and the reasons for
recent increases as well as determine whether the non-custodial options
available to magistrates and judges are sufficient.
Recommendation
11
5.133 The
committee recommends that the Commonwealth government coordinates, in
cooperation with the relevant states and territories, a review of the number of
deaths and serious injuries caused by family violence in Indigenous communities
as well as the current unmet need for appropriate facilities and resources in
the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara cross border region.
Recommendations from Third Report
Recommendation 1
2.42 The committee
recommends that COAG consider at its first meeting in 2010 how communication
and consultation with all relevant stakeholders in the delivery of the COAG
targets can be improved. Furthermore, progress in improving communication and
consultation should be publicly reported.
Recommendation 2
2.68 The committee recommends that the
Commonwealth government take a more active role in driving reform of the
criminal justice system with the aim of reducing the alarmingly high level of
contact of Indigenous Australians, particularly Indigenous young people.
Recommendation 3
3.142 While recognising that some measures
contain specific strategies to address workforce shortages, the committee
recommends that the Commonwealth and Northern Territory governments develop a
comprehensive strategy to address workforce shortages in all areas associated
with the NTER measures.
Recommendation 4
3.143 The committee also
recommends that progress made in addressing workforce shortages should be
included in the Monitoring Report.
Recommendation 5
4.22 The committee
recommends that the Commonwealth support the Western Australian Police in
continuing to ensure that the message to use greater discretion in policing in
remote communities is communicated to and well understood by officers in the
field and that they have the appropriate guidelines, training and support to do
so.
Recommendation 6
4.46 The committee
recommends that all Commonwealth, state and territory government departments
provide appropriate remuneration packages to staff in remote communities in
order to attract and retain a skilled workforce.
Recommendation 7
4.55 The committee
recommends that the Western Australian government consider conducting a
comprehensive analysis of non-custodial sentencing options to reduce the
unacceptably high incarceration rates in regional and remote Indigenous
communities, with particular attention to the social and economic costs and
benefits of alternatives and the factors driving significantly high rates of
reoffending.
Recommendation 8
4.66 The committee
recommends that the Western Australian government consider undertaking an audit
of the substance and scale of rehabilitation programs and post-custodial
release programs to address the unacceptably high rate of Indigenous recidivism
in the state.
Recommendation 9
4.67 The committee
recommends that the Western Australian government consider developing a
comprehensive, culturally appropriate strategy to address Indigenous
incarceration rates and recidivism that is based on sound international and
domestic evidence.
Recommendation 10
4.78 The committee
recommends that COAG increase the level of consultation and engagement with
local governments in formulating its strategy to deliver cost-effective and
appropriate municipal services to remote communities and develop an explicit
communication strategy to ensure that local government in Western Australia is
aware of is responsibilities.
Recommendation 11
4.102 As a matter of
urgency, the committee recommends that all levels of government clarify who is
to provide municipal services to remote Indigenous communities and arrange for
the adequate resourcing of these services.
Recommendation 12
4.157 The committee
recommends that the Commonwealth work with the Western Australian government to
support the development of an explicit plan to ensure that alcohol restrictions
in regional and remote communities, including Fitzroy Crossing and Halls Creek,
be supported by adequate rehabilitation and community support services to
address alcohol addiction and problem drinking.
4.158 The committee
further recommends that the plan include a consistent approach to alcohol
management that includes effective community consultation and decision making.
Recommendation 13
4.163 The committee
recommends that the Commonwealth and Western Australian governments work
together to ensure that adequate and long term funding and support for the for
the youth service in Balgo is provided.
Recommendation 14
4.184 The committee
recommends that the Commonwealth considers the development of a communication
strategy to provide simple, practical advice to parents and guardians caring
for a child with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, and that the status of FASD
as a recognised disability is clarified to ensure that parents, caregivers,
schools and communities are able to provide adequate support to children with
FASD.
Recommendations from Fourth Report
Recommendation
1
2.28 The
committee recommends that all Australian Government and state/territory
agencies, provide the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare with reports
and publications as they are published, as well as statistics on an annual
basis, to ensure that the Closing the Gap Clearinghouse is a relevant evidence
base for policy makers.
Recommendation
2
2.43 The
committee recommends that the COAG work on the National Strategy for Food
Security in Remote Indigenous Communities include an analysis of alternative
agriculture to improve the affordability, quality and availability of fresh
fruit and vegetables in regional and remote Indigenous communities.
Recommendation
3
2.50 The
committee recommends that the Australian Government expand the remit of the
Coordinator General for Remote Indigenous Services' reporting mandate for basic
service and infrastructure in all regional and remote Indigenous communities
with over 200 residents. The committee considers that the Coordinator General
should be afforded additional resources to undertake such an expanded reporting
role.
Recommendation
4
2.57 The
committee notes the consultation being undertaken in developing local
implementation plans but considers that as a matter of practice, consultation
plans which are not readily accessible to the public should be made public
prior to consultation being undertaken.
Recommendation
5
2.72 The
committee recommends that on a monthly basis the Australian Government publish
the number and location of new, rebuilt or refurbished homes completed under
the National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing program.
Recommendation
6
2.73 The
committee also recommends that the Coordinator General for Remote Indigenous
Services conduct a detailed analysis of the National Partnership Agreement on
Remote Indigenous Housing in his next six monthly report.
Recommendation
7
2.118 Noting
the success of the Sporting Chance Program, the committee recommends that the
Australian Government investigate programs for other extra curricular
activities such as a program for students interested in the arts.
Recommendation
8
2.176 The
committee recommends that the evaluation mechanisms that underpin COAG's
investment of the $100 million Tackling Smoking initiative be publicly released
to ensure that this funding provides a tangible difference on the ground in communities.
Recommendation
9
2.219 Given
the evidence that the committee has received about problems with funding
models, the committee considers that COAG should expedite implementation of the
Coordinator General for Remote Indigenous Services' recommendation to examine
the use of more flexible funding approaches which aggregate departmental
funding into a master contract with each National Partnership Agreement on
Remote Service Delivery community.
Recommendation
10
3.15 The
committee recommends that all state and territory governments consider the
publication of a Quarterly Report in line with that published by the Queensland
Government and that this information feed into the Council of Australian
Governments baseline data collection process.
Recommendation
11
3.34 The
committee recommends that the evaluation of the Cape York Welfare Reform trial
be made public to inform other governments about the results of the program and
its applicability to other regional and remote Indigenous communities.
Recommendation
12
3.84 The
committee recommends that the Ministerial Council for Education, Early
Childhood Development and Youth Affairs expand the policy on attendance
currently in the draft Indigenous Education Action Plan to include the need for
measures that facilitate reintegration of students who have missed large
amounts of schooling but recommence attending school as the result of
attendance measures.
Recommendation
13
3.248 The
committee recommends that the Australian Health Ministers Conference develop a
framework specifying interoperability between social and emotional wellbeing
services and clinical mental health services.
Recommendation
14
3.361 The
committee recommends that Queensland Corrections consider including routine
hearing assessments in the induction and assessment process for persons newly
entering the corrective services system.
Recommendations from Final Report
Recommendation 1
2.59 The committee
recommends the establishment of a Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Affairs by the Parliament of Australia.
2.60 The committee further
recommends that a Senate Select Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Affairs be established in the 43rd Parliament until such a
Joint Standing Committee is established.
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