Download a pdf version of the Inquiry Report here

Inquiry Report Urges Government Re-think on Reconciliation

The report of the Senate inquiry into national progress on reconciliation, "Reconciliation: Off Track", was released on 9 October, delivering a damning report-card on the Government's actions over reconciliation.

The report is particularly critical of the Government's failure to provide national leadership on reconciliation, warning that "unless there is commitment and support for reconciliation at the national level, the prospects of achieving reconciliation will be greatly diminished, if not extinguished".

The report's recommendations include calling on the Government to adequately resource the 'people's movement', particularly community reconciliation groups, whose work is essential if reconciliation is to progress. The Government currently provides no on-going funding for the reconciliation process.

An important conclusion of the report is that the blueprint developed by the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation over its ten-year term is a sound one and should be followed by the Government. The report strongly criticises the Government's acceptance of only one of the Council's six recommendations. Its narrow focus on 'practical reconciliation' and rejection of 'symbolic' and 'rights' issues "leaves many important issues off the agenda, to the detriment of Indigenous people".

The report also confirms that even on its own 'practical reconciliation' criteria, the Government's achievements in addressing Indigenous disadvantage have been abysmal. The health and life expectancy of Indigenous people have grown worse in comparison to non-Indigenous Australians in the seven years the Government has been in power!

One of the most urgent needs identified in the report is the development of a national reconciliation policy framework that incorporates symbolic and rights issues along with so-called 'practical reconciliation' issues. Such a framework needs to encourage more effective responses from State and Territory governments and better coordination between all levels of government, particularly through the COAG (Council of Australian Governments) process. Importantly, it must also provide for the establishment of effective targets, benchmarks, monitoring, reporting and evaluation.

The report's recommendations also include the establishment of a National Reconciliation Convention to provide an ongoing national opportunity to advance discussion of unresolved issues ('unfinished business') as well as action on constitutional change, and recognition of intellectual property rights and customary law. Response to the report's release has been disappointing, reflecting the success of the Government in sidelining reconciliation as a national issue.

However, it will provide much-needed encouragement to the broader reconciliation movement that it is on the right track. ANTaR, in partnership with other stakeholder organisations is already working on plans to bring a national focus back on reconciliation over the coming year.

Keep an eye for details over coming months.

What you can do:

Write letters to the Federal Minister and your State/Territory Premier or Chief Minister

Further information:
Senate Reconciliation Inquiry
ANTaR Media release, 10 October 2003