SPEECH BY COUNCILLOR BEV MANTON
Annual Aboriginal Staff Gathering dinner

Checkers Conference Centre
10 November 2009 

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Firstly, let me acknowledge the traditional custodians of the country that we are standing on.

I would also like to extend that respect to the many Aboriginal Elders past and present and other Aboriginal people here tonight.

Let me say from the outset, it is a great pleasure to be here for the annual Aboriginal Staff Gathering dinner.

Tonight is not an occasion for a long speech, so I will try to keep my remarks short.

Just over 30 months ago, I had the privilege of being elected as the first woman Chairperson of NSWALC.

I was humbled, honoured and excited to accept the position.

For most of my life, I have had a long commitment to improving the economic, social and cultural well-being of our people.

As the Chairperson of the NSWALC, I am conscious of the enormous responsibility that we have to our people.

I am determined to ensure we deliver real outcomes to improve the wellbeing of our members.

And I know each and every councilor from our nine regions shares my view. 

Together we have taken some courageous decisions that deliver on that commitment to improve the wellbeing of our members.

One such decision was the decision to create the NSW Aboriginal Land Council Education Endowment Fund.

The multi million dollar self funding education endowment fund will have a significant impact on improving the education and employment opportunities for Aboriginal people at all levels primary, secondary and tertiary.

It was a commitment of some $30 million and some 400 applicants have been successful.

They come from all walks of life and from all regions. 

And you can bet without question that these scholarships will be of enormous benefit.  

However, I know that there is still a long way to go to address the unacceptable levels of disadvantage in this state. 

So many of our people are amongst - if not the most - disadvantaged of all Australians.

To give but one example. 

Recently we as the State peak body were proud to be part of unique NSW Regional Partnership Agreement designed to break the unemployment cycle for thousands of our people.

The sad fact is that in this one major region alone - the Many Rivers Region - which had the third largest Aboriginal population in Australian - around 40,000 - there was an Aboriginal unemployment rate around 14 percent.

Yes, 14 percent.

We, as your elected representatives, are only too well aware of the widespread levels of disadvantage and more services. 

It was that awareness that saw us take what I believe was our most courageous decision.

Our partnership with the State Government to secure funding for the ongoing monitoring and maintenance of water and sewerage systems in more than 60 discrete Aboriginal communities across NSW is a key example of what can be achieved through working in partnership.

It represents a combined investment of more than $200M in today's dollars.

It also represents an acknowledgement by the Government that the Land Council system and the NSWALC in particular, is a strong and vital partner in improving conditions in Aboriginal communities across NSW.

I can think of no worthier way to spend our money. 

I know it is a commitment in the health and welfare of our people. 

Thousands will benefit and benefit in a way that delivers ongoing outcomes - outcomes that for once include ongoing maintenance contracts and on-the-ground training and employment opportunities for our people.

That is why I am immensely proud of this initiative.

The Land Council movement has achieved much for our people.  

Many examples come readily to mind. 

• That land claims have seen more than 80,000 hectares of land handed back under Aboriginal control and ownership - although that is still only just over 1 percent of the NSW land mass 
• Seen many positive economic initiatives such as the billion dollar Stockton bite sand mining joint venture at Port Stephens 
• The multi-million dollar joint shopping centre development at Nambucca Heads between the local land council and Indigenous Business Australia 
• The successes of land councils being involved - actively - in joint management arrangements of national parks such as Mutawintji National Park, the Mount Grenfell Historic Site, Biamanga and Gulaga National Parks and the Worimi Conservation Lands in my own backyard. 
• The creation and funding of a fine pre-school by the Mindaribba Aboriginal Land Council not just for Aboriginal pre-schools but all pre-schoolers both black and white who want to attend - and many non-Aboriginal kids do attend - and initiative that is playing a significant part in breaking down prejudice and ignorance

As, I said, we have achieved much.  But what is next?

I believe the next task for NSWALC to undertake is to ensure Aboriginal land councils continue to play a major role in building a strong economic future for their communities.

While the acquisition of land has remained a strong focus of land councils, the needs and aspirations of communities are being met through the development of businesses, better housing and infrastructure, jobs and training.

Since the Act was introduced we have seen an increase in the size and value of assets held by Aboriginal people.

The potential economic benefits of these increases will have a big say in promoting economic development in our Aboriginal communities.

As I mentioned earlier, currently Land councils in NSW control more than 80,000 hectares of land - land that has been valued at more than $2 billion.

Let me quickly tell you a little more about those two exciting projects in sand mining and shopping centre acquisition that will allow land councils to become economically independent.

Recently, the NSW Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Paul Lynch, announced the go-ahead for what will become the largest sand mine in the southern hemisphere.

The project will be the primary supplier of sand to the booming Sydney and Newcastle construction industries over the next 20 years and will generate about 60 operational and contract jobs.

It will unlock a resource valued at up to $320 million.

It will involve the extraction of 30 million tonnes of sand from two Aboriginal owned sites on the Stockton Bight.

The royalties flowing from the project are set to make the Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council one of the richest of its kind.

The income generated will flow from the land council into benefit schemes, including housing, health and employment programs, for the Aboriginal community.

A little further up the coast the Nambucca Heads Local Aboriginal Land Council has spent the past two years negotiating a joint venture with the Federal Government agency, Indigenous Business Australia, for a commercial retail shopping complex on Aboriginal owned land.

The LALC-owned land has been transferred into an entity jointly owned by the land council and IBA which is contributing an amount of cash equal to the value of the land to get the venture off the ground. 

The joint venture partners have successfully obtained consent from the Nambucca Shire Council for the venture which will, like Worimi, generate much needed economic development. 

Importantly, land councils are now overseeing the development of land and business plans to provide a future social, cultural and economic road map for their communities.

The Aboriginal Land Rights Amendment Bill 2009 has just passed through the Parliament.

The bill represents the second phase of the implementation of recommendations flowing from the 2004 review.

It will establish a new land dealings regime.

The amendments will align all dealings in land-other than acquisition-with the community and business plans prepared by LALC Boards.

It will also see Local Aboriginal Land Councils pay a community development levy on certain land dealings.

It is proposed those payments be matched dollar-for-dollar by NSWALC in a Community Development Fund.

This will be used to acquire further land and to distribute loans and grants to LALCs with less valuable land assets.

Be in no doubt that one of our major priorities will be to push for an even bigger and more influential role in the protection and promotion of cultural heritage in New South Wales.

From the moment of colonisation by Europeans, Aboriginal people have struggled physically, politically and through legal processes to gain recognition of our inherent right to own and manage our traditional lands, seas and resources.

We have never relinquished our attachment to our traditional country nor lost interest in being reunited with it.

Land has spiritual significance for my people.

The importance of maintaining a connection with our traditional country continues to be of fundamental importance for my people.

Aboriginal heritage is a living heritage, with my people still practicing and passing down to future generations our customs, traditions and spirituality, making us one of the world's longest surviving cultures.

We express our cultural heritage through 'the person' -  our relationship with country, people, beliefs, knowledge, law, language, symbols, ways of living, sea, land and objects all of which arise from Aboriginal spirituality.

Any legislation on Aboriginal cultural heritage must reflect this completely.

As the Chairperson of the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council, I am deeply alarmed about the serious deficiencies in current legislation to protect Aboriginal cultural heritage.

This council stands ready to work in true spirit and partnership with those who will walk with us.

I have tried to keep my comments short but there are so many exciting initiatives being developed at this time - it is hard to do so.

As a woman I can't help saying how far we have come when our people elect an all-female board of a Local Aboriginal Land Council.

Tumut Local Aboriginal Land Council returned an all-female board at its recent elections.

Who would have thought that would be possible?  It's a positive step.

So too is the fact that more and more women are stepping up to the plate just as more of our young people are doing the same.

We have also taken steps to put in place advisory committees for both our young people and our elders to help guide the work of the elected Council.

Again, I believe, a really positive and productive decision.

Finally, on behalf of NSWALC I want to take this opportunity to thank you all here tonight for your support.

Sometimes people forget that the real strength of any organisation is its members.

We have been through some tough times together.

And we have been through some good times.

There are many challenges that will confront us the road ahead.

I encourage you all to work with us to create the pathways to make the first Australians equal Australians.

Let us walk and work together to achieve a truly equal Australia.

A big task.

But surely one worth striving for.

Thank you.