Hon Peter Collier BA DipEd MLC — Making Aboriginal investment more effective

A summit to develop ways to make investment in Aboriginal affairs more effective is under way in Perth and has been opened by Aboriginal Affairs Minister Peter Collier.

Mr Collier said the Western Australian Aboriginal Advisory Council (WAAAC) Summit 2014 gave Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people the opportunity to explore how to best spend the large amounts of money spent on Aboriginal affairs.

“I was very pleased to welcome more than 200 Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people to the WAAAC Summit 2014 this morning,” the Minister said.

“The State Government currently invests heavily in Aboriginal affairs in a bid to close the gap, and we have seen some positive results since 2006 in the areas of literacy and numeracy, early childhood education, a 70 per cent improvement in full time employment and a 20 per cent reduction in the gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal mortality rates.

“Despite this, we’re still seeing significant gaps in areas like juvenile justice, mental health and rates of suicide. The summit provides the Aboriginal community – and those who work within Aboriginal affairs – to come together to discuss how Aboriginal people can better engage with and advise government. This will drive improved outcomes and more efficient and effective investment.

“I’m looking forward to receiving the recommendations from the delegation, with a view to this informing a review of the Aboriginal Affairs Planning Act 1972.”

The WAAAC Summit 2014 will include keynote speeches from Ian Trust, executive director of the Wunan Foundation, Deidre Willmott, chief executive officer of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Andrew Forrest, chairman and director of the Minderoo Foundation.

“The Liberal National Government, through the Aboriginal Affairs Cabinet Sub-Committee, will continue to work in an ongoing partnership with Aboriginal people to support them to have stable and healthy homes and families, a good education and meaningful employment,” Mr Collier said.