Mornington Island signs first Indigenous partnership agreement

The first in a series of local partnership agreements between the Queensland Government and Indigenous communities was signed on Mornington Island today.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Minister Warren Pitt congratulated the Mornington Island community for being the first Indigenous community in Queensland to enter a partnership agreement with the government.

He said the agreement builds on the existing negotiation table process, which involves local Indigenous communities and government departments and agencies working more closely together.

The agreement, which was also signed by a Commonwealth Government representative, nominates priority areas for action during the next 12 months. The priorities for the Mornington Island agreement are:

• education – lifting school attendance rates from the current level of 63 per cent to 75 per cent
• health – arranging screenings of 70 per cent of the local community for diabetes, cardiac disease and respiratory illness
• housing – forming a housing committee with the Queensland Government to develop and implement a housing improvement plan
• traditional family lands – providing support services for the management of traditional family lands including improved communications, first aid and maintenance of motors
• leadership – organising a capacity building workshop in July and then developing and implementing a capacity building strategy.

“This local Indigenous partnership agreement sets a platform for the future and I applaud Mornington Shire Council mayor Cr Susan Sewter and her council for their leadership,” said Mr Pitt, who visited Mornington Island (population 1400) in the Gulf of Carpentaria today with Member for Mount Isa Betty Kiernan.

“I also congratulate the Mornington Island community steering group and community members for their participation in this worthwhile process.

“Often, in the past, we have tended to bite off more than we can chew by trying to fix all of the problems all at once.

“However, these partnership agreements are a practical way of breaking down high-level, high-priority issues into bite-sized pieces so that we can achieve real and positive outcomes in these communities.

“The emphasis for these agreements is on outcomes and they are anchored to the negotiation table process, which brings together different levels of government that deliver services to the community.

“For its part, the Queensland Government will support the Mornington Island community and help it achieve these goals.”

Negotiations are continuing on an overarching statewide Indigenous partnership agreement.

Media contact: Peter Nibbs 3235 4280 or 0417 789 208