Dear friends,

This is one of the most common questions asked in the debate about ‘The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice’.

An answer can be found by reading about the work of the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body (ATSIEB) in the Australian Capital Territory (https://atsieb.com.au/

The ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body (ATSIEB) was first formed in 2008 as a democratic mechanism for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in the ACT to advocate on issues of importance to them and to scrutinise government actions. 

The ACT’s elected body is the first and remains one of only two state or territory elected First Nation bodies, with Victoria having a First Peoples’ Assembly specifically related to its treaty process. Other jurisdictions have advisory bodies, but members are appointed, not elected.

Since its formation the elected body has held elections every three years in 2011, 2014, 2017, and due to Covid, in 2021.

According to ATSIEB: ‘The Elected Body has 7 members representing First Nations peoples in the ACT. Our job is to be a strong, democratically elected voice to the ACT Government. We listen to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Canberrans and represent your ideas and concerns to the changemakers, so we can get results on issues that are important to us. Our direct advice to local government supports safety, quality of life and reconciliation for our community in Canberra and surrounds.’

On 24 June 2021 the role and contribution of ATSIEB was discussed in the Debates of the Tenth Legislative Assembly of the ACT. In an answer to a question, the Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs listed some of the ‘… outstanding examples of what a democratic voice to government can achieve for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.’

The Minister noted that 

‘The elected body has driven real change through direct advocacy and partnership with government. The body has pushed the government to return Boomanulla Oval to community control, and this is now being prioritised through the healing and reconciliation fund. The elected body guided the development of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander older persons housing projects delivered by my colleague Deputy Chief Minister Berry, and the elected body pushed for the investments we are now making to deliver a purpose-built facility for Gugan Gulwan Youth Aboriginal Corporation.

Those are just some specific examples of the elected body’s achievements in addition to its ongoing efforts to consult with the community, to work with government agencies and drive improvements in their services, and to hold government to account through its formal hearings.’

The whole debate can be read at (pages 2031 to 2033): 

https://www.hansard.act.gov.au/hansard/10th-assembly/2021/PDF/20210624.pdf

Thanks for your support and your comments for signing and not signing the petition.

I do sincerely apologise for sending this lengthy post.

With best wishes to you all,

Subhash