COAG Indigenous Trials

Archived News

This page contains news items including media releases and announcements from the old COAG Trial site. Use links below to navigate to each section.

Where indicated links in these news items may open external sites or archived files including Adobe PDF or Microsoft Word. Unfortunately we can not vouch for the accessibility of these

News Items

New Indigenous Community Partnership Agreement for the ACT launched at Parliament House

A landmark ‘Shared Responsibility Agreement’ for the ACT was signed by representatives of the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, the Australian and ACT Governments and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission in a ceremony at the Great Hall, Parliament House on 15 April 2004.

The Agreement commits the parties to a new relationship that will focus on improving individual and community wellbeing in the ACT Indigenous community; strengthening culture; improving health, education and employment; and enhancing the capacity of government staff and community residents to work together more effectively.

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Minister Vanstone's Address to the Australian Government Executive Forum (SA)

Senator the Hon Amanda Vanstone, Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, addressed the Australian Government Executive Forum on 20 February 2004 about the need for a new approach to address Indigenous disadvantage.

"Back in April 2002 the Council of Australian Governments agreed that a new approach was needed.

The message of all governments to their bureaucracies was pretty clear – get your act together, work together more effectively and give Indigenous people more say in what goes on in their communities.

This new approach is based on ‘Shared Responsibility’ between the community, its families and individuals, with government (all governments)."

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ICC Media Launch and Thamarrurr Delegation Visit

Senator the Hon Amanda Vanstone, Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs held a media conference on Wednesday 8 October to showcase the importance of all levels of government working better with Indigenous communities to improve service delivery as well as identifying local solutions to problems.

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Greater Shepparton Aboriginal Community Signs New Agreement with Government

A new agreement was signed on 4 September 2003 by the Aboriginal community of Greater Shepparton, the Australian and Victorian governments, ATSIC and the City of Greater Shepparton. The agreement, or Compact, outlines the commitments of all levels of government and the Aboriginal people of Greater Shepparton to work more cooperatively together.

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Murdi Paaki COAG Agreement Signed

A 'Shared Responsibility' agreement was signed on 1 September 2003 for the Murdi Paaki region in western New South Wales under a new approach being adopted by Australian governments and Indigenous communities to improve the outcomes for Indigenous people from government expenditure.

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Prime Minister Visits Cape York

Prime Minister John Howard visited Cape York on 5/6 August 2003 at the invitation of Mr Richie Ah Mat on behalf of the Cape York Land Council. The Prime Minister visited Napranum, Weipa and Aurukun, and attended the Cape York Land and Health Summit at Beagle Camp.

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Wadeye Shared Responsibility Agreement

A Shared Responsibility Agreement for Wadeye in the Northern Territory was signed on 21 March 2003 by representatives of the Thamarrurr (the governing body of the community), Senator Amanda Vanstone, Minister for Family and Community Services, together with the State's Chief Minister, Clare Martin. Key priority areas to be addressed are Women and Families, Youth and Housing and Construction. The agreement reflects the willingness of the Thamarrurr and the Wadeye community to join forces and work as partners with the Australian and the Northern Territory Governments.

More Info:

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Media Releases

15 April 2004 - New Indigenous Community Partnership Agreement for the ACT launched at Parliament House (PDF - 121 KB)
A landmark ‘Shared Responsibility Agreement’ for the ACT was signed by representatives of the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, the Australian and ACT Governments and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission in a ceremony at the Great Hall, Parliament House on 15 April 2004.

8 October 2003 - Very Encouraging Signs from Indigenous Pilots
In April 2002, COAG decided to identify a number of remote communities that would benefit from a new way of approaching Indigenous disadvantage. Put simply, COAG instructed the bureaucrats to get their act together and coordinate their efforts. In return, the Indigenous people were given more of a say and more responsibility for what happens in their communities.

4 September 2003 - Greater Shepparton Aboriginal Community Signs New Agreement with Government
A new shared responsibility agreement was signed today between the Aboriginal community of Greater Shepparton, the Australian and Victorian governments, ATSIC and the City of Greater Shepparton.

1 September 2003 - Murdi Paaki COAG Agreement Signed
A 'Shared Responsibility' agreement has been signed for the Murdi Paaki region in western New South Wales under a new approach being adopted by Australian governments and Indigenous communities to improve the outcomes for Indigenous people from government expenditure.

28 August 2003 - Aboriginal People in Northern Region of Tasmania to Join COAG Trials
The Australian and Tasmanian Governments have agreed to work closely with Aboriginal people in Tasmania to address the difficult issue of Indigenous family violence, focusing on the northern region as a trial site. The trial will give Aboriginal people in northern Tasmania a genuine opportunity to work towards improving their well being in collaboration with both governments.

6 August 2003 - Family Income Management Projects for Indigenous Communities
The Australian Government will commit a further $1.5 million to allow the expansion of the very successful Family Income Management project. This project, which has been trialed in three communities in the Cape York area, is an innovative programme aimed at increasing the purchasing power of families in Cape York by teaching and assisting them to save a proportion of their income on a regular basis.

30 July 2003 - Shepparton’s Indigenous Community Joins COAG Trial
The Australian and Victorian Governments have agreed with the local Indigenous community that Shepparton will be a trial site for a Council of Australian Governments (COAG) initiative to improve outcomes for Indigenous people.

4 July 2003 - Tjurabalan Trial Based on Community Involvement
The Tjurabalan whole-of-government trial in the east Kimberley region will make use of a new initiative that involves community members in resolving the issues confronting them.

2 July 2003 - Tjurabalan and Regional Indigenous Communities Join COAG Trial
Federal, State and local governments and the communities that make up the Tjurabalan region in the east Kimberley of Western Australia have agreed to work together under the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) whole of government approach to improve the outcomes for Indigenous communities.

22 May 2003 - Anangu Pitjantjatjara (AP) Lands Communities to Work Together with Federal-State Partnership
The Australian and South Australian Governments, and the AP Lands communities have agreed to work together under the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) whole-of-government approach to improve the outcomes for Indigenous communities.

21 March 2003 - Signing of Important New Indigenous Agreement at Wadeye
The Australian, together with the Northern Territory Government and the Thamarrurr governing body has signed a Sharing Responsibility Agreement at Wadeye.

19 November 2002 - Wadeye Community Joins Federal-Territory Partnership (Word - 49 KB)
The Australian and Northern Territory Governments have agreed with the Wadeye community that it will be the second site for Council of Australian Governments (COAG) whole-of-government approach to improve the way governments work with Indigenous communities. [more»] *(49kb Microsoft Word Document)

25 September 2002 - Australian Governments to Work Together to Address Indigenous Priorities in Cape York (Word - 25 KB)
The Australian Government will work in partnership with the Queensland Government and Cape York Indigenous communities to manage a 'whole of government' approach to Federal and State Government services. *(25kb Microsoft Word Document)

25 September 2002 - Shared Responsibility - Shared Future
The Australian Government has agreed to work closely with State and Territory Governments in a number of Indigenous communities and regions to provide programs and services in a more coordinated and flexible way, based on priorities agreed with communities. The initiative is part the Government's aim of improving the way all governments work with Indigenous communities.

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Announcements

5 April 2002 - Communique by Council of Australian Governments
Reconciliation: The Council reaffirmed its continuing commitment to advance reconciliation and address the social and economic disadvantages experienced by many indigenous Australians.

3 November 2000 - Communique by Council of Australian Governments
Aboriginal Reconciliation: Drawing on the lessons of the mixed success of substantial past efforts to address Indigenous disadvantage, the Council committed itself to an approach based on partnerships and shared responsibilities with Indigenous communities, program flexibility and coordination between government agencies, with a focus on local communities and outcomes.

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