Page 1068 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 2 May 2006
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anniversary celebrations, I was in communication with some people over it. I was caused to remark that, out of those 20 or 30-odd families that settled there, in my generation there have been two people who have entered politics. There is me, of course; and my cousin was, for a long time, a member of the New South Wales upper house.
That brings me on to the next topic, which is to congratulate Mr Barr on his admission to the Assembly, to the playground, and to comment that, coincidentally, both Mr Barr and I were born in Lismore. These two events have caused me to wonder, given the propensity of the New Italy settlers to produce politicians—more specifically, people from Lismore to produce politicians—whether there is something in the water; perhaps the New South Wales government might institute some research.
I congratulate Mr Barr—and perhaps we should also congratulate Lismore. Perhaps they got rid of us to somewhere else, but it was obviously fertile ground in the first place.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Consultative Council
MRS BURKE (Molonglo) (4.48): I just want to bring to the attention of the house an interesting matter, which I have been conversing with the Chief Minister about, relating to arrangements for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of the ACT. I wrote to the Chief Minister a fairly lengthy letter on 11 April this year, and I asked him for an update following the consultation meetings held to garner viewpoints and outcomes in relation to the establishment of an ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elected body.
I am left a little confused I have to say. I did not really get a full answer on this one. If the Chief Minister is listening, perhaps he will reflect on his letter to me, which was fairly short in comparison to the questions I asked him, in which he says:
With the assistance of consultants, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Consultative Council has undertaken a community consultation process to elicit views about representative arrangements for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the ACT.
I expect that the Consultative Council will provide me with a report on the community consultation process in the near future. The report will be carefully considered, and a response provided to the Consultative Council. That response may involve a further community consultation process.
Thank you again for your letter.
I have to say that there are no time lines attached to this. Great circus and theatre was made by the Chief Minister. This was some sort of issue that was put out before the Canberra community; there was absolute remonstration at the closure of ATSIC; we were going to have this great elected body and it was going to happen. Well, I have heard little to nothing about it. I do not know if other members have. If the Chief Minister or anybody in his office is listening, perhaps they would like to tell me now if they are any nearer to some more time lines. This letter I received, incidentally, from the Chief Minister on 24 April; so just a week ago.
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