THE Federal Government’s abolition of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) has come under fire from indigenous Church leaders.
The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ecumenical Commission (NATSIEC) of the National Council of Churches in Australia has condemned the move, saying it jeopardises indigenous peoples’ aspirations to self-determination.
Prime Minister John Howard announced the decision on April 14.
NATSIEC issued a statement calling for a rethink. The statement said the Government’s decision ignored the recommendations in the report on the ATSIC Review, ‘In the Hands of the Regions – a New ATSIC’, released last November.
‘NATSIEC acknowledges that ATSIC is in need of structural reform as reported in the ATSIC Review,’ the NATSIEC statement said.
‘Abolishing ATSIC and replacing it with a non-elected advisory body flies in the face of the principles of self-determination and the democratic process.
‘Federal and State governments must share responsibility for the current state of ATSIC and the current problems within the indigenous community.’
NATSIEC said the issue must be conducted in close consultation and negotiation with indigenous peoples.
