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Wednesday 8 October 2003, Media Release

NSWALC WELCOMES ALP COMMITMENTS

The New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council welcomes the policy on governance of Indigenous organisations and communities which was endorsed by the NSW Branch of the ALP at its state conference at the weekend.

The policy was presented by Warren Mundine, chairman of the ALP Indigenous People and Reconciliation Committee.

We particularly welcome the committee's recognition that major governance demands have been placed on our communities and organisations, for example, the NSW land rights system, without adequate preparation, training and support from government, business and the community.

We also acknowledge its recognition that the resources of Aboriginal communities are stretched to the limit in meeting the expectations of government and managing issues in the community.

I have invited Mr. Mundine and other members of the committee to meet with NSWALC next week.

We wish to discuss their policy pledge to support a partnership approach from government, business and the wider community to improve the capacity of Indigenous organisations to meet the growing expectations for high standards of corporate governance, accountability and service delivery.

NSWALC agrees with the policy statement that our organisations are vulnerable to outside intervention without strong governance.

A joint effort is required to strengthen governance, and lift the management and leadership skills of Aboriginal community organisations, through ongoing support, training and education.

We also wish to clarify with Mr Mundine his public statements that NSWALC should be sacked and replaced with a Government appointed administrator.

These statements would appear to be entirely at odds with the policy statement he moved, and which was endorsed by delegates at the weekend conference.

We have worked hard in recent months, in close consultation with our administrative arm and our new CEO, William Johnstone, to formulate and adopt a range of new governance policies and procedures and an internal separation of powers regime.

We look forward to meeting with Mr Mundine and members of his committee to provide them with a comprehensive briefing on these policies and procedures and to clarify Mr Mundine's position on these matters.

Les Trindall
Chairperson