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Report on the NSW Government's Implementation of the Recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody
Access to government archives of Aboriginal families and history That Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments provide access to all government archival records pertaining to the family and community histories of Aboriginal people so as to assist the process of enabling Aboriginal people to re-establish community and family links with those people from whom they were separated as a result of past policies of government. The Commission recognises that questions of the rights to privacy and questions of confidentiality may arise and recommends that the principles and processes for access to such records should be negotiated between government and appropriate Aboriginal organisations, but such negotiations should proceed on the basis that as a general principle access to such documents should be permitted. Government’s original position: Supported Revised government position: Supported Agencies responsible for implementation: Archives Commonwealth Government Implementation report In his speech to Parliament on 18 June 1997, the Premier, Minister for the Arts and Minister for Ethnic Affairs, the Honourable R J Carr, MP, announced that a one year moratorium had been placed on the destruction of records relevant to the separation of Aboriginal families, and that a strategy was to be developed that would improve access to Government records in New South Wales. This moratorium was subsequently extended for a further 12 months. With a view to developing common access guidelines, the Records Access Taskforce, which is convened by the Department of Aboriginal Affairs, is examining the current guidelines that government and non-government Departments and/or agencies apply when access is sought in relation to the records that are relevant to the separation of Aboriginal families. The Taskforce is also in the process of establishing a One-Stop-Shop, with one agency becoming custodian and repository of the records that relate to the Stolen Generations. Implementation status Partially implemented Continued reporting
Preservation of Aboriginal culture, history and traditions The Commission notes that many Aboriginal people have expressed the wish to record and make known to both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people aspects of the history, traditions and contemporary culture of Aboriginal society. This wish has been reflected in the establishment of many small local community museums and culture centres. The Commission notes that many opportunities exist for projects which introduce non-Aboriginal people to Aboriginal history and culture. One illustration is the work done by the Kaurna people in South Australia to restore the Tjilbruke track; another is the Brewarrina Museum. The Commission recommends that government and appropriate heritage authorities negotiate with Aboriginal communities and organisations in order to support such Aboriginal initiatives. Government’s original position: Supported Revised government position: Supported Agencies responsible for implementation: Ministry for the Arts; The Heritage Office Implementation report The Ministry for the Arts funds numerous programs relevant to this recommendation. Information that these initiatives may be found in Chapter 3 and in the Appendix. The Heritage Office supports this Government initiative with both the Heritage Assistance Program and the Heritage 2001 program grants. Aboriginal communities are encouraged to apply for heritage assistance by way of direct mail to all 119 LALC’s and 200 other Aboriginal organisations around New South Wales. Advertisements are also placed in standard newspapers, local newspapers and the Koori Mail. Organisations are encouraged to contact the Aboriginal heritage officer who assists with applications either on the phone or by visiting community projects. In the 1998/99 financial year 20 projects were funded totalling $219,518. The projects were broadly based in the following areas:
All projects must have the support of local Aboriginal community before they are considered for funding. To date 173 Aboriginal projects have been funded since the program began. This has totalled $2,165,559 in funds. Implementation status Partially implemented Future reporting in Part A |
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