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| Dodson, Burney call for government to fund National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The federal government must declare whether or not it intends to offer a lifeline to the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples, after the organisation announced it has gone into voluntary administration, say Indigenous Labor MPs. | |
| “It’s very sad news,” Labor’s spokesperson on Indigenous affairs, Linda Burney, said. “Congress is representative of many thousands of people. The government can’t just let this pass without comment. | |
| “If it is serious about taking a bipartisan approach to Indigenous affairs they will restore funding for Congress.” | |
| The National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples, representing several thousand Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and people across the country, has gone into voluntary administration, citing its “uncertain financial position”. | The National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples, representing several thousand Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and people across the country, has gone into voluntary administration, citing its “uncertain financial position”. |
| “After years of struggle, National Congress is at a cross-road for continued survival,” its chief executive, Gary Oliver, wrote to members in an email last night. | “After years of struggle, National Congress is at a cross-road for continued survival,” its chief executive, Gary Oliver, wrote to members in an email last night. |
| “We are optimistic about the appointment of the Hon Ken Wyatt as Minister for Indigenous Australians, but our financial need is urgent and compelling. Unless a very significant lifeline appears in the immediate future, I regret to say that the administration process will lead to the National Congress being wound up.” | |
| Company that holds Aboriginal flag rights part-owned by man prosecuted for selling fake art | Company that holds Aboriginal flag rights part-owned by man prosecuted for selling fake art |
| National Congress was set up in 2010, and represents more than 180 Indigenous organisations and nearly 10,000 individual members. In 2013 the Abbott government withdrew its support and any commitment to future funding. | National Congress was set up in 2010, and represents more than 180 Indigenous organisations and nearly 10,000 individual members. In 2013 the Abbott government withdrew its support and any commitment to future funding. |
| Labor’s spokesman on reconciliation and constitutional reform, Pat Dodson, says First Nations people will be able to see how serious this government is about co-design of a voice to parliament, by how it responds to congress’s financial crisis. | |
| “First Nations people should be wary of this government’s commitment to a voice, if they are prepared to let Congress go under it calls into question their commitment to a voice to parliament, to a co-design process, to real reconciliation,” he said. | |
| “The organisation has struggled financially since the beginning of 2014,” Oliver wrote. “Nonetheless, due to contributions by the community and volunteers, National Congress has continued its advocacy on behalf of its members and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in general. | “The organisation has struggled financially since the beginning of 2014,” Oliver wrote. “Nonetheless, due to contributions by the community and volunteers, National Congress has continued its advocacy on behalf of its members and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in general. |
| “National Congress has continued to make submissions to government inquiries and until this month, it has remained active in the media and civil society to represent views supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander interests. | “National Congress has continued to make submissions to government inquiries and until this month, it has remained active in the media and civil society to represent views supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander interests. |
| “Following the Don Dale scandal and the 2016 national election, National Congress managed to eke out survival by entering into a fee-for-service agreement with the then minister for Indigenous affairs, Nigel Scullion. | |
| “However, this arrangement has compromised National Congress’ ability to fulfil its mandate, especially in terms of engagement with its members across the country.” | “However, this arrangement has compromised National Congress’ ability to fulfil its mandate, especially in terms of engagement with its members across the country.” |
| Guardian Australia has contacted Wyatt’s office for comment. | |
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