Minister for Indigenous Australians
TASMANIAN MINISTER FOR ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS, BRIDGET ARCHER: Welcome everybody here to Piyura Kitina in Nipaluna, Hobart. It's a very historic occasion for Tasmania hosting Joint Council on Closing the Gap here for the first time. I'd like to acknowledge that we are on Aboriginal land and pay my respects to Elders past and present and extend that respect to any First Nations people that are with us today. As I said, this is a very historic occasion for us to host this and I welcome everyone that's travelled from across the country to join us here for this occasion. I'd now like to hand over to Scott Wilson, the Co-Convenor, to say a few words.
SCOTT WILSON, DEPUTY LEAD CONVENOR OF THE COALITION OF PEAKS: Thanks a lot for that Minister. We'd like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land we are meeting on here today, Lutruwita. We pay our respects to Elders past and present. We acknowledge our government partners. We also want to recognise the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, one of the early members of the Coalition of the Peaks. Despite the painful history of colonisation in Tasmania, they chose to take a chance of a new way of working with governments and their leadership helped build the partnership we're meeting under today. Joint Council meets at a critical time.
Today, we are focussed on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people because our survival as First People depends on them growing up strong in culture, supported by family and with general opportunity. Right now this country is still failing too many of our kids in early childhood development, education, out of home care, youth justice and access to safe housing and services. These are failures of government systems not about children and their families, and they demand action not excuses. We are hopeful that today we can make some progress on addressing the policies and practises that continue to disproportionately harm our young people and agree to work together with the Community-Controlled sector to support our kids, young families and people. It's timely then that today, Joint Council will also be considering a response to the Aboriginal-led review on Closing the Gap. The review is clear. There is more to be done by all governments before the promise of the Closing the Gap Agreement is fulfilled. The Coalition of the Peaks expects real accountability and accelerated action, including leadership through National Cabinet and First Ministers.
I also want to acknowledge that where governments have honoured their commitments, where they have implemented the priority reforms properly, we've seen real and positive changes, better designed programs, stronger Community-Controlled services, more shared decision making and more accountability for outcomes. This shows what is possible when the Closing the Gap Agreement is taken seriously. The Coalition of the Peaks remain committed to the partnership, because we're seeing evidence when governments work with us, not around us, we get better outcomes on the ground. Today's an opportunity for Joint Council to show that commitment. Thank you. I'll hand you over to Minister McCarthy.
MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS, MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Thanks Scott. Good morning, I too would like to acknowledge the custodians of this area. It is beautiful to be here, in Tasmania and to spend time with Aboriginal families across Tasmania. But also, to understand, as best I can, the difficulties for communities here. In terms of representation today, I do want to also acknowledge the host, Bridget Archer, in terms of your first time as minister here, representing Tasmania on the Joint Council. And also, to my fellow Indigenous Affairs Ministers who travelled across from their state and territory jurisdictions, and the Vice President also of the Local Government Association, who's come all the way from Broken Hill to join us here. It is important that we meet twice a year with the Coalition of Peaks.
It is very tough to improve the lives of First Nations people as per the Agreement, but it's not impossible. And I think that's really important that we recognise that it is about coming together, it is about the relationships that we have, both at a state and federal and territory level, along with our very important partners in this relationship. And that is the Aboriginal community-controlled sector. That is a huge sector that represents First Nations families right across Australia and I do appreciate my Co-Chair Pat Turner, who I work with every fortnight really, in terms of our preparation, and in terms of what we're trying to do to address the issues that need to be addressed in every state and territory jurisdiction, as well as the Commonwealth. I acknowledge Pat's work and I do recognise that today Scott will be the Co-Chair in her place. One of the things we are focussed on, specifically at the Commonwealth level, is to create jobs.
To make sure that we're rolling out jobs across the country, particularly in remote and regional Australia. And this has been able to happen as a result of co-design with the Peaks but also the food security program, a program that we wanted to see reduce the cost of living for families in at least 100 remote stores across Australia. We want to reach 152. We are on track to do that and in reducing the cost of 30 essential items, we know that that will make a really big difference for all of our families who live in the remote regions of this country. Again, a policy that was co-designed in partnership with the Coalition of the Peaks. There are many other areas, the ranger program in particular, again a program that focusses on jobs, but focusses on Country. It is the one area, in particular, around Country and sea Country, that we are kicking goals in Closing the Gap. But the areas where we're not, which is in youth justice and incarceration and out of home care, is where we will continue to focus. Now, I do look forward to the conversations today for the ongoing work that we do, collectively, across the states and territories with the Commonwealth. Thank you.
JOURNALIST: Minister, can I ask you a few questions. You mentioned incarceration there. There have been a number of Closing the Gap targets that continue to worsen, incarceration rates is one area, particularly in some states. At what point will the government step in and take action? At what point will the federal government take action against states that aren't meeting those targets?
MINISTER McCARTHY: From June to now, one of the clear goals that we had at the last Joint Council, was for my Co-Chair Pat Turner and I to meet with the Attorneys-General and the Indigenous Affairs Ministers and other ministers, like Corrections Ministers and those who had responsibility in this space, and we have done that. We have done that by having individual meetings with them, raising our expectations as a Joint Council, on those particular jurisdictions. Now, I understand politically that parties will make their decisions in terms of elections and why and how they wish to get into these positions. But I also know that we are responsible, all of us collectively as leaders, to see when a policy is not achieving the outcome, when it has profound impacts. So, these are obviously conversations I have to keep having. All ministers present here I respect, very much so, and as a result, I know that we will get to reducing these incarceration rates.
JOURNALIST: Conversations are one thing. Is there any point at which penalties should be handed down by the Commonwealth to the states if states and territories are failing to meet the targets?
MINISTER McCARTHY: There are all options on the table. I have said this publicly, that it is important that we can reduce these rates. And not just in terms of Target 11, with incarceration rates. I'm talking about all our targets, we must all be responsible. What we don't have in this Agreement, you're right, we don't have any kind of penalties for not reaching those targets. What I'm trying to do is I've established a Ministerial working group at the Commonwealth level, where I'm supported by my fellow ministers, so that we can look at our federal funding agreements, and how it is that we are interacting with states and territories. That will take a bit of time, but that is an important step, and yes, you're right, that will be an important lever.
JOURNALIST: So, you're saying that financial penalties could be considered for states that don't meet their Closing the Gap targets?
MINISTER McCARTHY: All options are on the table. I'm looking at all of those.
JOURNALIST: What about the option of the federal government having a national law around the minimum age for criminal responsibility? Would the federal government consider doing that and overriding what states have in place?
MINISTER McCARTHY: I'm conscious of the conversations that I've also had in that space. We do have the federal Attorney-General Michelle Rowland joining the Joint Council today, along with Minister Tanya Plibersek, in terms of her portfolio areas in regards to out of home care and care of youths. These will be important discussions, and let's see how the conversation goes.
JOURNALIST: But just on that specific detail, would the federal government ever consider mandating across Australia the minimum age of critical responsibility, such as 12 or 14.
MINISTER McCARTHY: Whilst I won't speak for the Attorney-General, I will say this, that we have always said on the record that every state and territory is responsible for these areas. But I'm certainly aware of the fact that Michelle Rowland as federal Attorney-General knows that this is a concern across the country.
JOURNALIST: Couple more just on the, if I may, on the incarceration and justice issue, Victoria has announced it's going to follow Queensland's lead on so-called adult time, adult crime laws. What's your response to that announcement? Particularly at a time when it'll involve harsher sentences for children at a time when the state government had signed a treaty.
MINISTER McCARTHY: Well, it's really important that I have my Victorian colleague here today, and I will certainly be engaging in conversations. So, you may want to redirect some of those questions to her. But from a Commonwealth perspective, I think I've answered that in terms of the concerns I have right across Australia, not just one jurisdiction but it's right across the country. We are looking at our federal arrangements in terms of funding agreements.
JOURNALIST: Okay, and just on in New South Wales, there's the government, is the federal government concerned about a New South Wales Government bill to amend the children's and young offenders legislation, which many advocates fear will lead to higher rates of youth incarceration?
MINISTER McCARTHY: Again, if the outcome's the same, in terms of seeing rising numbers of Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander people in jail, my response is still the same. I will be deeply concerned.
JOURNALIST: Can I just come back? You've referenced the potential for financial penalties. What kind of time frame are you looking at to consider that? Are we talking in the next year? Are we talking many years down the track?
MINISTER McCARTHY: I won't put a timeframe on it. It is important for me to continue these dialogues in terms of trying to do it by consensus, and when I say consensus, I need the support of my ministerial colleagues.
JOURNALIST: I've got some questions on the cyclone up north, but I also was hoping we could quickly ask some questions from the Coalition of Peaks.
MINISTER McCARTHY: Can I just reach out to the people of the Northern Territory. Both on behalf of myself and my Northern Territory colleague Steve Edgington, that we are very much thinking of all of you. Please, for those of you, in Warruwi, across to Maningrida and to the Tiwi Islands. Please prepare well. This is a very difficult system that is facing our communities. And I would say to the people of Darwin and families in Darwin, be prepared, but stay safe.
JOURNALIST: Do you think the housing is up to standard, particularly on the Tiwi Islands?
MINISTER McCARTHY: We know that police have been out on the ground, in all of those communities, not just Tiwis, but also everywhere in between, right up to Warruwi, to prepare families. In any infrastructure that is not safe, families have been making decisions of where they will go. It is not unusual for residents to go to a cyclone shelter or to a building that is far more up to code than any existing ones, and that is what is happening at the moment.
JOURNALIST: And do you think more cyclone shelters in remote communities are needed to ensure people are protected?
MINISTER McCARTHY: Well, I'd certainly like to see more cyclone shelters, absolutely, but not just in the Northern Territory. I mean, we've seen the floods over in Queensland, we've seen what happens in Western Australia. The weather is changing, it is getting hotter. We are seeing more cyclones. It's a very realistic future that's ahead of us in terms of this increasing.
JOURNALIST: From the Coalition of the Peaks perspective, what is the main thing you're trying to have happen today?
SCOTT WILSON: I suppose that the main thing we're sort of seeking today is agreement around the Aboriginal-led review and the actions that are sort of contained in there. And also looking at the terms of reference for the next Productivity Commission review of the National Agreement.
JOURNALIST: And why are those key issues so important?
SCOTT WILSON: I suppose, well, because they're actually part of the National Agreement, to have the Indigenous-led review. There's a whole range of actions that are sort of in there that obviously state, territory and federal governments need to sort of come to a party. Without actually having some of those actions agreed to then obviously we're in a difficult place in moving forward. So that's why we're looking forward to today's discussion.
JOURNALIST: Just finally on the incarceration issue, the potential of maybe having some financial penalties for states and territories that don't meet targets. What do you think of that idea?
SCOTT WILSON: Obviously, as the Minister said, unfortunately there is no penalties if states and territories change track halfway through the agreement. It is a decade long. We would look at, obviously, some sort of penalties for those states and territories who, because, you know, we are on track, really, except from in some jurisdictions, where we keep going backwards, and that's because governments might change legislation that, as the Minister said, disproportionately affect young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids. And we'd actually like to see the federal government actually use some of the levers that they have, considering we've signed international treaties on the rights of youth and children.
JOURNALIST: Thank you very much.
