Minister reassures Indigenous communities on cultural identity

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Minister Warren Pitt has reassured Queensland’s Indigenous communities that their cultural identity will be maintained during the local government reform process.

Mr Pitt told Parliament today that the Department of Communities would work closely with the Department of Local Government and Planning and Indigenous councils to ensure the councils engaged effectively with the review and reform process.

“I have had preliminary discussions with several Indigenous mayors since the Premier announced the local government review on Tuesday,” Mr Pitt said.

“In these discussions, I have stressed that my department’s Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships will work to enable Indigenous local councils to participate fully and productively in the review.

“One particular issue that mayors have raised with me, and which I believe is of central importance to Indigenous communities, is the need to guard against any loss of cultural identity as a result of this review process.

"Cultural identity is paramount to Indigenous people, and while local government boundaries may change and local government arrangements may change, it is vitally important we understand that cultural identity is something that must be maintained and not eroded.”

Mr Pitt said Queensland’s Indigenous local councils were an important group within the State’s local government sector.

“There are 17 Aboriginal local councils, and a further 17 Torres Strait Islander councils. Together, they comprise about 21 per cent of the state’s 157 local authorities,” he said.

“Generally, they represent some of the smallest and also some of the most remote local authorities in Queensland.

“I strongly believe that with commitment and effort, the objectives of reforms to our system of local government, maintenance of Indigenous cultural identity and appropriate community governance and service arrangements can be successfully achieved, and that they need not be seen as in some way mutually exclusive.”

Media contact: Joe Begley 3235 4280