Government finalising report on Indigenous issues

The Queensland Government is finalising a comprehensive report that will detail areas of disadvantage for Indigenous communities in the state.

Communities Minister Warren Pitt, who has responsibility for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policy, said the completed report would be used to guide future decision-making about policies and services affecting Indigenous Queenslanders.

“This baseline report is currently in draft form, and is in the process of being finalised for consideration by the State Government,” Mr Pitt said.

“Claims that the report is secret and has been shelved are not true. This report was referred to openly and explicitly in last year’s Ministerial Portfolio Statement as part of the documents prepare for the 2006-07 State Budget.*

“It has also been widely circulated across government departments and agencies as part of the consultation being done as part of its development.

“The report is clearly marked that it is in draft form.”

Mr Pitt said information contained in the report was being verified and would be considered by the government once completed.

“Generally, there is nothing substantially new in the report – the information is mostly drawn from existing data that is publicly available,” he said.

“It is the drawing together of information under particular areas of focus and performance that is different, and that will make the report valuable.

“Also, there is some comparative information that is new relating to Indigenous populations in urban, regional and remote areas, and some analysis by specific age groups.

“The report will provide the cornerstone of a new performance framework for delivering services to Indigenous communities.”

Mr Pitt said the government remained committed to the implementation of the Partnerships Queensland initiative, which provides an overarching framework for policies and services affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders.

Media contact: Joe Begley 3235 4280

* Extract from 2006–07 Ministerial Portfolio Statement, p. 2-5:
“Continued the implementation of Partnerships Queensland: Future directions framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policy in Queensland 2005–2010, including the endorsement of the Partnerships Queensland performance framework and the baseline indicator report …”

For full MPS, go to http://www.datsip.qld.gov.au/budget/2006/documents/datsip_budget_mps_2006.doc