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House of Representatives Economics
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Preliminary pages
Chair’s foreword
This inquiry covered the
important issue of Indigenous economic development in Cape York. The isolation
of the region means that, while Indigenous participation in cultural activitiesis vibrant,
Indigenous people face additional hurdles to participating in the market
economy. The inquiry has brought out many of these problems, but has also
pointed to opportunities and successes in areas such as natural resource
management and Indigenous cultural activities.
The focus of the inquiry was on
the Queensland Wild Rivers Act 2005. Although there is room for
improvement in implementing the Act, this should not obscure the main picture
that it benefits Queensland through preserving the natural values of rivers
that have all, or most, of their natural values intact while still permitting
Indigenous economic development and maintaining a suitable environment for
traditional activities.
The
committee held a number of hearings in far north Queensland and it soon became
apparent that a large degree of misinformation has been in circulation about
the Act. Perhaps the key message of the inquiry is that consultations
under the Act need to be improved. Clearly, the Queensland Government expended
significant resources in travelling to remote communities and discussing with
them the Act and the declarations made under it. However, the committee received a clear message from some Indigenous communities that the consultations
were not sufficient.
During the inquiry, the
Queensland Government announced an important measure to improve its
consultations. It will establish Indigenous reference committees for any
potential wild river area on Cape York Peninsula. These bodies will ensure members can directly advise the Minister about
declaration proposals as well as their community’s aspirations for future
economic development. The aim of the
Queensland Government is for each reference committee to reflect the native
title, traditional ownership and Indigenous stakeholders in the relevant river
basin.
The Queensland Government also
outlined several other initiatives supporting Indigenous economic development.
It will facilitate economic growth on Cape York through a strategic regional
economic development plan. It will examine how to create jobs in the Cape, including nature-based opportunities that are being enhanced by the Wild Rivers
Act 2005. The Queensland Government will also build the capacity of
Indigenous councils in dealing with planning legislation and establish an
independent economic development mentors support network.
I commend the Queensland
Government for taking an active approach on these
issues and for responding to concerns raised during the Inquiry.
The inquiry also examined the
Wild Rivers (Environmental Management) Bill 2010, which was introduced in the
House in November 2010. The inquiry process has revealed a flawed document
which is unworkable for a variety of reasons. Importantly, the Bill uses
ambiguous definitions which would result in confusion
and would override the Wild Rivers Act 2005 putting the successful Wild
Rivers Rangers program at risk. The committee has concluded that
the Bill should not be passed.
Indigenous economic development
is a large and complex issue and this report can only cover part of such a wide
topic. However, this report does include important recommendations on how the
Commonwealth can be more involved in assisting Indigenous economic development
in Cape York. I also anticipate that the material presented to the committee
and made public will contribute to a greater awareness of these issues and
assist policy development in the future.
I would like to thank those who
made submissions to the inquiry and the witnesses who attended hearings. The
committee is very appreciative of this assistance and expertise. I also thank
my colleagues on the committee for their contribution to the report.
Craig Thomson MP
Chair
Membership of the Committee
Chair |
Mr Craig Thomson MP |
Deputy Chair |
Mr Steven Ciobo
MP |
Members |
Mr Scott Buchholz MP |
|
Mr Stephen
Jones MP |
|
Dr Andrew
Leigh MP |
|
Ms Kelly
O'Dwyer MP |
|
Ms Julie
Owens MP |
|
|
|
Committee Secretariat
Secretary |
Mr Stephen Boyd |
Inquiry
Secretary |
Mr David Monk (from 9 March 2011)
Mr Justin Baker (until 18 February 2011) |
Principal
Research Officer |
Dr Andrew Gaczol |
Technical
Advisor |
Ms Kit Quarry |
Administrative
Officer |
Ms Natasha Petrovic |
Terms of reference
On the 3 November 2010 the Minister for
Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, the Hon Jenny
Macklin MP referred the following reference to the Committee.
The Committee should examine the scope for
increasing sustainable Indigenous economic development in Queensland and
including in the Cape York region having regard to the aspirations of
Indigenous people and the social and cultural context surrounding their
participation in the economy.
The Committee should consider:
- existing environmental regulation, legislation in relation
to mining and other relevant legislation including the Wild Rivers Act
(Qld) 2005 and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation
Act 1999;
- the impact which legislation in the form of the Wild
Rivers (Environmental Management) Bill 2010 would have, if passed; and
- options for facilitating economic development for the
benefit of Indigenous people and the protection of the environmental
values of undisturbed river systems.
The inquiry should pay particular attention
to the following:
- The nature and extent of current barriers to economic
development and land use by people, whether Indigenous or non-Indigenous,
including those involved in the mining, pastoral, tourism, cultural
heritage and environmental management;
- Options for overcoming or reducing those barriers and
better facilitating sustainable economic development, especially where
that development involves Indigenous people;
- The potential for industries which promote preservation of
the environment to provide economic development and employment for
Indigenous people;
- The effectiveness of current State and Commonwealth
mechanisms for appropriate preservation of free-flowing river systems
which have much of their natural values intact, including the preserving
of biodiversity;
- Options for improving environmental regulation for such
systems;
- The impact of existing environmental regulation,
legislation in relation to mining and other relevant legislation on the
exercise of native title rights and on the national operation of the
native title regime and the impact which legislation in the form of the
Wild Rivers (Environmental Management) Bill 2010 would have on these
matters.
The Committee should also make
recommendations as to what initiatives might be pursued in order to promote
economic development while preserving environmental and cultural values.
On 17 November 2010 the House of
Representatives referred the Wild Rivers (Environmental Management) Bill to the
Committee for Inquiry and Report by the end of the autumn period of sittings in
2011. Submissions addressing this Bill will be received as part of the
committee’s broader inquiry into indigenous economic development.
List of abbreviations
ALA |
Aboriginal Land Act 1991 |
CAC |
Chuulangun Aboriginal Corporation |
CDEP |
Community Development Employment Program |
CLCAC |
Carpentaria Land Council
Aboriginal Corporation |
COAG |
Commonwealth Council of
Australian Governments |
CSIRO |
Commonwealth Scientific and
Industrial Research Organisation |
CYPLUS |
Cape York Peninsula Land Use Strategy |
DEEWR |
Department of Education,
Employment and Workplace Relations |
DERM |
Department of Environment and
Resource Management (Qld) |
DOGIT |
Deed of Grant in Trust |
DRIP |
Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples |
EPBC |
Environment Protection and Biodiversity
Conservation Act 1999 |
IDC |
Inter-Departmental Committee |
ILC |
Indigenous Land Corporation |
ILUA |
Indigenous Land Use Agreements |
LHA |
Aborigines and Torres Strait
Islanders (Land Holding) Act 1985 |
MCA |
Minerals Council of Australia |
NPA |
National Partnership Agreement |
NPARC |
Northern Peninsula Area Regional
Council |
NTA |
Native Title Act 1993 |
NTRB |
Native Title Representative Body |
QLD |
Queensland |
RTA |
Rio Tinto Alcan |
TSILA |
Torres Strait Islander Land
Act 1991 |
UN |
United Nations |
WRIC |
Wild Rivers Inter Departmental
Committee |
List of recommendations
1 Background
Recommendation 1
The Commonwealth Government continues to address the economic
and geographical barriers to Indigenous economic development through its
closing the gap programs across Australia and in particular, in Cape York; and
the Queensland Government proactively affirms its commitment to addressing
Indigenous disadvantage by pursuing place based initiatives for economic
participation in Cape York.
2 Cape York – Context and Consultation
Recommendation 2
The committee notes the economic benefit of major
infrastructure and investment programs and recommends that the Queensland and
local governments in Cape York work with Infrastructure Australia and Regional
Development authorities to progress these programs.
Recommendation 3
The committee further notes the Indigenous training and
employment benefits of major infrastructure and investment programs and
recommends that Queensland and Australian Governments ensure these
opportunities are maximised.
Recommendation 4
The committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government
continues to partner with the mining industry to facilitate training and
employment so that workforce participation in the industry becomes a mainstream
employment option for Indigenous people.
Recommendation 5
The committee recommends that the Queensland Governments
mentors support network initiative be linked to Commonwealth Government
initiatives for Indigenous small business development in business, tourism and
administration.
Recommendation 6
The committee recommends that the QLD Government strengthen
its consultation and engagement framework for the Wild Rivers Act 2005
(Qld). The committee notes that the establishment of Indigenous reference
committees group under the Cape York Sustainable Communities initiative is
intended to address this and to work directly with Indigenous stakeholders on
improving the wild rivers consultation process.
Recommendation 7
The committee recommends that the Indigenous Reference
Committee framework be developed and extended to service Indigenous peoples
throughout Queensland on issues relating to economic development.
It is important that all stakeholders be engaged in this
process and endorse the framework.
Recommendation 8
The committee recommends that the Queensland Government
provides information to Indigenous communities and individuals which assists
them to step through the operation of the Wild Rivers Act 2005 (Qld) and
other conservation and land management legislation.
Recommendation 9
The Commonwealth support the Queensland Government in
developing its strategic regional economic development plan for Cape York under
its Sustainable Cape Communities initiative.
Recommendation 10
In consultation with Indigenous communities, the Queensland
Government increase opportunities for Indigenous business partnerships under
its Sustainable Cape Communities initiative.
3 The Wild Rivers (Environmental Management) Bill 2010
Recommendation 11
That the House of Representatives not pass the Wild Rivers
(Environmental Management) Bill 2010.
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