Recommendation 89

The Australian Government recognises the importance of engaging in good faith consultations with Indigenous peoples in relation to decisions that affect them. It engages with Indigenous people on issues that affect them through the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s Regional Network, the Indigenous Advisory Council, Indigenous community based organisations and other bodies.

For example, the Indigenous Advisory Council provides advice to the heart of government: the Cabinet. The Indigenous Advisory Council focuses its attention in four key areas:

• strengthening its relationship;
• using strengths-based approaches;
• enabling and embracing local leadership and decision making; and
• developing better lines of accountability and decision making for expenditure in Indigenous Affairs and beyond.

Information on how the Australian Government is supporting the Indigenous designed and led Empowered Communities initiative that gives Indigenous people a greater say in decisions that affect them can be found on the Empowered Communities page on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet website.

For information on state and territory policies and programmes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, visit:

• Australian Capital Territory – Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs
• New South Wales – Office of Communities—Aboriginal Affairs
• Northern Territory – Office of Aboriginal Affairs
• Queensland – Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships
• South Australia – Department of Premier and Cabinet, Aboriginal Community Advice and Support
• Tasmania – Department of Premier and Cabinet, Office of Aboriginal Affairs
• Victoria – Department of Premier and Cabinet, Aboriginal Victoria
• Western Australia – Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage