The Central Land Council calls on the Senate to reject a review that would duplicate existing independent processes that have confirmed the CLC’s effective representation of Aboriginal Territorians.

“Northern Territory land councils are among the most-successful and most reviewed organisations in the country and the CLC has demonstrated over and over that we are well-governed, transparent and effective,” CLC chief executive Les Turner said.

“Only two months ago we welcomed an intensive performance audit by the Australian National Audit Office.

One of a series of audits of NT land councils to be tabled this year alone.”

The National Indigenous Australians Agency also regularly reviews the performance of the land councils.

“Not only are we demonstrably accountable to our constituents and governments and improving continuously how we operate, we are also helping to closing the gap,” said Mr Turner.

“We contribute to one of the few targets in the National Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap that are on track, the native title target.”

Reviews show that the CLC provides effective and efficient services to traditional owners whose native title rights over a 161,000 square kilometres area have been recognised so far.

It also protects the interests of the traditional owners of more than 418,000 square kilometres of Aboriginal freehold land, has set up 14 ranger groups to help traditional owners to manage their land and has supported traditional owners and remote community residents to invest more than $200 million of their collective income in community-driven development projects.

Mr Turner urged the Senate to reject the review motion because it is wasteful. “I wonder what is driving such attempts to tie successful organisations up in more red tape.

“An additional review would force us to direct our limited resources away from serving some of the poorest Australians.”

Mr Turner said another review would duplicate the ANAO’s rigorous audits. “As we have heard loudly and clearly during this year’s Garma Festival, more waste and duplication and more of the same are unacceptable, and no substitute for a positive agenda for remote communities,” he said.

“Instead of making it harder for the most effective Aboriginal organisations to do their job the coalition should listen to the call of the elected representatives of grass roots Aboriginal people for a constitutionally enshrined voice.”

Contact: Sophia Willcocks | 0488 984 885| media@clc.org.au

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