Reconciliation and Social Justice Library

Indigenous Social Justice Strategies and Recommendations - Some of the problems with the existing arrangements

There has been considerable concern expressed by many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people about the role of the State, Territory and local governments in relation to the delivery of a range of government services and programs. Current funding arrangements for the delivery of programs and services by these governments:

* are inadequate and inequitable;

* are far too complex;

* impose unnecessary administrative burdens on communities and organisations;

and most importantly,

* restrict the opportunities for greater control at the local level.

My Second Annual Report provided a lengthy discussion of these problems, particularly in relation to health matters. Many of these concerns were also highlighted by the Royal Commission Into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody . In Chapter 27, `The Path to Self-Determination' , Commissioner Johnston was also critical of some of the mainstreaming policies of the State and Territory governments, and emphasised the important role of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service delivery organisations.

The Royal Commission referred to "the confusing and complex funding arrangements which already bedevil Aboriginal communities", and noted that there "is a very great need for governments to get together to examine the whole complex picture of funding in the Aboriginal affairs area".

Two recommendations were made with respect to these issues:

Recommendation 190: That the Commonwealth Government, in conjunction with the State and Territory Governments, develop proposals for implementing a system of block grant funding of Aboriginal communities and funding of Aboriginal organisations and also implement a system whereby Aboriginal communities and organisations are provided with a minimal level of funding on a triennial basis.

Recommendation 191 : That the Commonwealth Government, in conjunction with the State and Territory Governments, develop a means by which all sources of funds provided for or identified as being available to Aboriginal communities or organisations wherever possible be allocated through a single source with one set of audit and financial requirements but with the maximum devolution of power to the communities and organisations to determine the priorities for the allocation of such funds.

While both recommendations were supported by the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments, in practice very little has actually been done to simplify the funding arrangements for communities and organisations. In many cases communities and organisations are being inadequately funded, often through ATSIC's Community Development Employment Projects scheme (CDEP), to provide services that would normally be the responsibility of another level of government.