Statement of Commitment to a New and Just Relationship between
The Government of Western Australia and
Aboriginal Western Australians

A Commitment to a New and Just Relationship

There is a need for a new and just relationship between the Government of Western Australia and Aboriginal Western Australians.

Aboriginal people and their culture are a unique and invaluable part of our State;
Dispossession, settlement and the cumulative acts of colonial and State governments since the commencement of colonisation have left an enduring legacy of economic and social disadvantage that many Aboriginal people experience;
Aboriginal people have continuing rights and responsibilities as the first people of Western Australia, including traditional ownership and connection to land and waters. These rights should be respected and accommodated within the legal, political and economic system that has developed and evolved in Western Australia since 1829;
Wealth creation in the general Western Australian community is fundamentally important in the process of addressing problems facing Aboriginal people. Certainty for industry's development proposals and security for Aboriginal people's cultural heritage and values must be equally respected within the overall development of the State;
Circumstances of Aboriginal people can differ significantly between regions and localities. Regional and local approaches are required to address issues that impact on Aboriginal communities, families and individuals;
To achieve improvement Government and Aboriginal people need to work together in partnership and share responsibilities.

Statement of Commitment

This agreement commits the parties to work together to build a new and just relationship between the Aboriginal people of Western Australia and the Government of Western Australia.

Parties

The parties to this agreement are the Government of Western Australia and the Western Australian ATSIC State Council, supported by the following Aboriginal Peak Bodies:

Western Australian Aboriginal Native Title Working Group;

Western Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation; and

Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia.

Objective/Purpose

The purpose of this statement is to agree on a set of principles and a process for the parties to negotiate a State-wide framework that can facilitate negotiated agreements at the local and regional level.

The shared objective is to negotiate a new approach in Aboriginal affairs policy and administration in Western Australia based on regional agreements.

The partnership framework aims to enhance negotiated outcomes that protect and respect the inherent rights of Aboriginal people and to significantly improve the health, education, living standards, and wealth of Aboriginal people.

Principles

In achieving these objectives the parties are committed to the following principles:

recognition of the continuing rights and responsibilities of Aboriginal people as the first peoples of Western Australia, including traditional ownership and connection to land and waters;
legislative protection of Aboriginal rights;
equity with respect to citizenship entitlements;
regional and local approaches to address issues that impact on Aboriginal communities, families and individuals;
a commitment to democratic processes and structures;
inclusiveness;
the need to address issues arising from past acts of displacement;
a commitment to improved governance, capacity building and economic independence.

Agreement in Good Faith

This is an agreement made in good faith based on the commitment of the parties to effective and sustainable partnership.

Partnership Framework

The Parties agree that the most effective means of translating the above principles into meaningful action and outcomes is by way of regional agreements, based on partnerships.

The parties agree that between Aboriginal people and the Western Australian Government there will be negotiated partnerships which:

will be based on shared responsibility and accountability of outcomes;
should be formalised through agreement;
should be based on realistic and measurable outcomes supported by agreed benchmarks and targets;
should set out the roles, responsibilities and liabilities of the parties; and
should involve an agreed accountability process to monitor negotiations and outcomes from agreements.

The Partnership Framework will establish State-wide policies and administrative arrangements to support negotiations and agreements at the regional and local level.

The Partnership Framework will support Aboriginal people to negotiate regional and local agreements according to the priorities of Aboriginal people in partnership with other stakeholders.

The Partnership Framework should incorporate and be informed by separate agreements in the health, housing, essential services, native title, justice and other issues that impact on Aboriginal people in this State.

The Partnership Framework will address:

a whole of Government/community approach based on negotiated policy benchmarks and targets;
regional negotiated agreements incorporating integrated planning involving ATSIC, community organisations and State and local government;
agreed processes for audit and evaluation of negotiations and outcomes;
reform of government and Aboriginal organisational infrastructure where required to ensure the implementation of the partnership agreement.

Structure for Continuing Dialogue

The basic structure for continuing dialogue will be based on:

Regular liaison between the Cabinet Standing Committee on Social Policy and the ATSIC State Council supported by the Aboriginal Peak Bodies;
Regular meetings of the Indigenous Affairs Advisory Committee that will consist of the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Directors General of other Government Departments, the ATSIC State Council supported by Aboriginal Peak Bodies to provide advice and to monitor progress being made;
Regional plans using existing statutory processes for planning in Indigenous affairs; and
Agreements applied at the local level.

Signed by

The Honourable Dr Geoff Gallop MLA
Premier for Western Australia