SPEECH BY COUNCILLOR PATRICIA LAURIE
RPA AGREEMENT SIGNING, COFFS HARBOUR

BIRPAI LALC, 15 AUGUST 2009

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As is our custom, I want to pay my respects to the traditional owners of the land on which we stand today, the Biripi people.

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters.

It is with great pleasure that I speak today.  I have, after all, been involved in the development of this Regional Partnership Agreement since the very beginning.

NSWALC is proud to be one of the partners.

This approach is unique.

What's more it has the 100 percent support of LALC's in my region.

They are right behind it.

Why?

Because in the past few job creation schemes have worked.

This is different.  It is a real partnership and each Regional has nominated talented Aboriginal people to be a part of this partnership.

Everyone wants it to work.

That means today, as we officially launch this six-way partnership, everyone involved genuinely wants it to work

That's great.

But we are all aware that the path ahead is not going to be easy.

We are going into this with our eyes open.

We know how difficult it will be for an Aboriginal, stand alone enterprise - or business -to be able to be self funding in such a short space of time while also securing regular work contracts for our Aboriginal green teams.

Green teams across three of our NSWALC Regions.

But as I said, everyone involved genuinely wants this concept to work.

There had to be a different approach.

This is it.

It is all about lessening unemployment and giving back pride, giving back a feeling of self worth.

Doing work that helps the whole community.

I give my commitment to do all I can to make it work.

It is, in my view, one of the most important initiatives to occur in my Region since I was elected.

To everyone involved good luck.  We are all behind you. 

Thank you.