Partnership approach and cooperation essential to welfare reform project

Queensland Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Warren Pitt has welcomed the commitment by Federal Labor if elected to work in partnership with the Queensland Government on welfare reforms for Indigenous communities.

Mr Pitt said cooperation between the Federal and Queensland Governments was absolutely essential.

“I cannot overstate the importance of a concerted, cooperative effort, with the two levels of government working closely together.

“That partnership approach then needs to be extended to include the communities themselves.

“These reforms are going to have their best chance of working if we engage the communities properly, and get leadership and ownership at the community level.”

Mr Pitt said the Queensland Government was considering the report on the Cape York Welfare Reform Project, and would develop a comprehensive response to the measures that had been proposed, initially to be introduced in four far north Queensland communities.

“There are significant implications for a number of State Government departments and services, and these need to be properly understood and examined," he said.

“To date, there has not been the consultation and negotiation that will need to occur if the recommendations of the report are to be implemented, either between the Commonwealth and the State, or with the communities concerned.

“There will also need to be extensive consultation between the Commonwealth and Queensland governments, as well as the Cape York Institute which developed the report.”

Mr Pitt said the Queensland Government was committed to working in partnership with Indigenous communities.

“Unquestionably, we will need to consult in quite some depth with these communities in developing our response to this report.

“What we are aiming to do is build the capacity of communities over time to manage their own affairs.”

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