One year ago today, the Territory Labor Government signed alandmark Memorandum of Understanding with the four Northern Territory landcouncils to work towards a Treaty.
The historic Barunga Agreement marked a huge step forwardin improving the lives of Aboriginal Territorians.
In the year since, the Territory Labor Government hasappointed the NTs inaugural Treaty Commissioner, former Australian of the YearProfessor Mick Dodson AM, who started work in March to consult with AboriginalTerritorians to ultimately establish a Treaty with the NT Government.
So far, the Treaty Commissioner has met with peakAboriginal organisations in Darwin, Alice Springs and on Groote Eylandt.
He will be at Barunga this weekend and has trips toKatherine and Tennant Creek planned in the coming weeks. Visits to other majorcentres, including attending the Garma Festival, will follow.
In addition to its work towards a Treaty, the TerritoryLabor Government is continuing to empower Aboriginal communities with its LocalDecision Making (LDM) Agenda, which is helping support communities to realisetheir social and economic potential.
Four LDM agreements have been signed with Aboriginalcommunities or regional elders so far, as well as three statements ofcommitment.
These agreements empower Aboriginal Territorians todetermine the direction and governance of things such as healthcare, justice, housing,education and childcare, so they best serve their communities.
Quotesattributable to Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Selena Uibo.
The Territory Labor Government promised to deliver aTreaty and in the past year, we have taken enormous strides in doing so withthe appointment of highly respected Professor Dodson as the NTs first ever TreatyCommissioner.
The Barunga Agreement committed the Northern Territory toa new path of reconciliation, one we have been walking the past year not onlywith the appointment of Professor Dodson but with the continued signing of LDMagreements across the Territory.
These partnerships ensure decisions for communities arelocally led. Local decisions are the best decisions.
The Territory Labor Government has also increased fundingfor the Barunga Sport and Cultural Festival, an important annual celebration oflocal Aboriginal culture, which I am proud to support in my electorate ofArnhem.
Quotesattributable to Treaty Commissioner, Professor Mick Dodson, AM.
The key objective of any Treaty in the Northern Territorymust be to achieve real change and substantive, long term benefits forAboriginal people.
I was in Alice Springs for four days this week, where I metwith eight key Aboriginal organisations and presented to the NTPS AboriginalEmployment Forum.
Here, and in other places I have visited, I have beenenormously encouraged by the high level of interest in Treaty and thewillingness of organisations to get involved.
Quotesattributable to Northern Land Council Chief Executive, Marion Scrymgour.
The NLC looks forward to working closely with the NTGovernment and the other NT Land Councils, to develop a Treaty that willadvance and secure the interests of traditional Aboriginal owners in the TopEnd and serve us all for many years into the future.
There is a lot of hard work yet to be done. TheNLC will sit down with the Independent Treaty Commissioner, Professor MickDodson, at our next NLC Full Council meeting later this month.
Im sure all members of the NLC are looking forward tohearing what Commissioner Dodson has to say and of course letting him know ourthoughts on behalf of traditional owners.
