‘The National Indigenous Australians Agency is an Australian government agency responsible for whole-of-government coordination of policy development, program design, and service delivery for Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islander people, who are grouped under the term Indigenous Australians’ (government website).
Why have we heard almost nothing of this organisation from politicians (or journalists for that matter!) in the last 12–18 months?
If this agency, which was established by an executive order signed by the Governor-General on 29 May, 2019 could not perform in conjunction with Linda Burney, the previous coalition government, and the great many advocates, local members and community leaders for Indigenous communities which already exist across the nation, why would anyone, other than lawyers, think more legislation would make it any different?
How many millions have been spent on this organisation which apparently has not delivered?
How does it cost millions to highlight, in the Constitution, the presence of First Nations people prior to white settlement?
Will a so-called Voice to Parliament water down wildlife protection laws and make special provision for Indigenous people e.g. to allow them to continue killing endangered turtles and dugongs?
The minister for Indigenous affairs has been a politician for a great many years and must know the issues and problems facing First Nations people.
Maybe the NIAA should speak out about wasting money on weaponry and tax avoidance and advise the government to spend the money on social issues (now there’s an idea… take a holistic approach).
If fake leaders and their legal lackeys can’t do their job with their fat paycheques, there is always their local Centrelink office.
Rod Murray, Ocean Shores
Find out more on the Voice to Parliament
‘How the Voice will help government’ by Fred Chaney in The Saturday Paper: www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au.
Julian Leeser interview on RN.