Mr ELFERINK - 1998-08-20
What is his response to claims by the Central Land Council’s Tracker Tilmouth that self-government has delivered nothing to Aboriginal people?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, at the outset, I say to Tracker Tilmouth that he might like to compare the situation in the Northern Territory, as far as assistance and funding to contribute to the wellbeing of Aboriginal people is concerned, with that which exists interstate. If he were to do that, he might find that he is somewhat better off, as too are other Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory, than he believes himself to be. The fact is that all Territorians, inclusively, have benefited hugely from self-government and the ability of a Northern Territory government to make decisions in relation to the betterment and advancement of Aboriginal people and other Territorians since 1978.
Anyone would recognise these benefits - with the exception, sadly, of Tracker Tilmouth. Of course, he is not in a position, and has not been for some years, that would not afford him the opportunity to advance the best interests of Aboriginal people himself. As the head of the Central Land Council, he oversees the Aboriginals Benefit Trust Account, and he could have influenced strongly the way that that fund has been used to the benefit of Aboriginal people.
Mr Ah Kit: No, he can’t.
Mr REED: The member for Arnhem interjects. He was in a similar position some years ago. It was at about that time that Aboriginals Benefit Trust Account funding was siphoned off to run the administration of the land council rather than to assist people who really needed the money in Aboriginal communities, the people it was intended to benefit. His maladministration as an employee of the land council saw the money siphoned off for use for administrative purposes at the land council, as opposed to it being used for the benefit of Aboriginal people. Therefore, the member for Arnhem should be the last to speak, the last to enter into this debate.
If the total expenditure in the Northern Territory of $64.086m …
Mr Ah Kit: I was more than a park ranger before I came here.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr REED: I dare say the constituents ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Members on the government side also should come to order. The Treasurer is trying to deliver his reply.
Mr REED: The constituents of the member for Arnhem in Arnhem Land may also be interested in this answer. Expenditure directed towards Aboriginal community services totalled $64.086m for the year 1996-97. On the basis of expenditure per capita of the Territory population, that was $346.11. Per head of the Aboriginal population, it was $1235.37. Let us compare that with a government of the same flavour as the member for Arnhem. The Labor government in New South Wales spends, on Aboriginal people in that state, in total terms, $7.8m or a little more. Per capita, it spends $1.26. That is what the Labor government of New South Wales contributes to the wellbeing of Aboriginal people there. Before the likes of the member for Arnhem enter debate of this kind, they should consider the situation of Aboriginal people elsewhere in the country. Perhaps Tracker Tilmouth would like to suggest that Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory should be funded at the same level as those in New South Wales. I think he would find that the services then provided to them would be substantially less than at present.
This is not to ignore, of course, the billions of dollars that have been directed through ATSIC to Aboriginal people, or the mining royalties that are available to Aboriginal people as a direct source of income. Of course, what that demonstrates is that Aboriginal people now have a greater capacity to help themselves.
However, it is not all about money. There are issues to be considered here in addition to merely the funding requirements. Of the Northern Territory health budget of just under $400m, 50% is spent on improving the health of and servicing Aboriginal people, and on the infrastructure that is put in place to assist them.
If the attitude of people like Tracker Tilmouth were to change, they could contribute significantly to the advancement of Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory, to the benefit of all Territorians. It is not simply a matter of dollars. There are matters on which Tracker himself, if he were so inclined, could assist that would contribute to the wellbeing of Aboriginal people. It is a pity that he does not realise that. It is a pity too that the same attitude permeates both the Northern Land Council and the Central Land Council. If it did not, if they changed their outlook, Aboriginal Territorians would find that, quite apart from the fact that in monetary terms they are well off compared with Aboriginal people in other parts of Australia, they would also be better off in human terms. If Tracker were to change his mind, he could join with the people who actually get up and help Aboriginal people.
Madam SPEAKER: While I am aware that no time limit is imposed on answers to questions, I remind ministers that it would assist the business of the House if their responses are reasonably short. It is 10.30 am and only 4 questions have been asked and answered so far.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, at the outset, I say to Tracker Tilmouth that he might like to compare the situation in the Northern Territory, as far as assistance and funding to contribute to the wellbeing of Aboriginal people is concerned, with that which exists interstate. If he were to do that, he might find that he is somewhat better off, as too are other Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory, than he believes himself to be. The fact is that all Territorians, inclusively, have benefited hugely from self-government and the ability of a Northern Territory government to make decisions in relation to the betterment and advancement of Aboriginal people and other Territorians since 1978.
Anyone would recognise these benefits - with the exception, sadly, of Tracker Tilmouth. Of course, he is not in a position, and has not been for some years, that would not afford him the opportunity to advance the best interests of Aboriginal people himself. As the head of the Central Land Council, he oversees the Aboriginals Benefit Trust Account, and he could have influenced strongly the way that that fund has been used to the benefit of Aboriginal people.
Mr Ah Kit: No, he can’t.
Mr REED: The member for Arnhem interjects. He was in a similar position some years ago. It was at about that time that Aboriginals Benefit Trust Account funding was siphoned off to run the administration of the land council rather than to assist people who really needed the money in Aboriginal communities, the people it was intended to benefit. His maladministration as an employee of the land council saw the money siphoned off for use for administrative purposes at the land council, as opposed to it being used for the benefit of Aboriginal people. Therefore, the member for Arnhem should be the last to speak, the last to enter into this debate.
If the total expenditure in the Northern Territory of $64.086m …
Mr Ah Kit: I was more than a park ranger before I came here.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr REED: I dare say the constituents ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Members on the government side also should come to order. The Treasurer is trying to deliver his reply.
Mr REED: The constituents of the member for Arnhem in Arnhem Land may also be interested in this answer. Expenditure directed towards Aboriginal community services totalled $64.086m for the year 1996-97. On the basis of expenditure per capita of the Territory population, that was $346.11. Per head of the Aboriginal population, it was $1235.37. Let us compare that with a government of the same flavour as the member for Arnhem. The Labor government in New South Wales spends, on Aboriginal people in that state, in total terms, $7.8m or a little more. Per capita, it spends $1.26. That is what the Labor government of New South Wales contributes to the wellbeing of Aboriginal people there. Before the likes of the member for Arnhem enter debate of this kind, they should consider the situation of Aboriginal people elsewhere in the country. Perhaps Tracker Tilmouth would like to suggest that Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory should be funded at the same level as those in New South Wales. I think he would find that the services then provided to them would be substantially less than at present.
This is not to ignore, of course, the billions of dollars that have been directed through ATSIC to Aboriginal people, or the mining royalties that are available to Aboriginal people as a direct source of income. Of course, what that demonstrates is that Aboriginal people now have a greater capacity to help themselves.
However, it is not all about money. There are issues to be considered here in addition to merely the funding requirements. Of the Northern Territory health budget of just under $400m, 50% is spent on improving the health of and servicing Aboriginal people, and on the infrastructure that is put in place to assist them.
If the attitude of people like Tracker Tilmouth were to change, they could contribute significantly to the advancement of Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory, to the benefit of all Territorians. It is not simply a matter of dollars. There are matters on which Tracker himself, if he were so inclined, could assist that would contribute to the wellbeing of Aboriginal people. It is a pity that he does not realise that. It is a pity too that the same attitude permeates both the Northern Land Council and the Central Land Council. If it did not, if they changed their outlook, Aboriginal Territorians would find that, quite apart from the fact that in monetary terms they are well off compared with Aboriginal people in other parts of Australia, they would also be better off in human terms. If Tracker were to change his mind, he could join with the people who actually get up and help Aboriginal people.
Madam SPEAKER: While I am aware that no time limit is imposed on answers to questions, I remind ministers that it would assist the business of the House if their responses are reasonably short. It is 10.30 am and only 4 questions have been asked and answered so far.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016