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Agreement for the Provision and Management of Housing and Infrastructure for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People in Queensland (excluding the Torres Strait Region)
Date:	20 February 2001
Sub Category:	Framework Agreement \| Funding Agreement
Place:
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State/Country:	Queensland, Australia
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Alternative Names:	Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing and Infrastructure Bilateral Agreement
Subject Matter:	\| Consultation \| Employment and Training \| Health and Community Services \|
URL:	https://web.archive.org/web/20060508085900/http://www.lgp.qld.gov.au/Docs/local_govt/cgis/Bilateral.pdf
Summary Information:
The parties to the Agreement are the Commonwealth of Australia (the Commonwealth), represented by the Minister for Family and Community Services, the State of Queensland (the State), represented by the Minister for Housing and the Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) and the Aboriginal Co-Coordinating Council (ACC). Each of the parties has a statutory responsibility for the delivery of programs and funding for housing and associated infrastructure for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The stated purpose of the Agreement is to establish an understanding and arrangement between the parties whereby Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Queensland (excluding the Torres Strait region, which has a separate agreement) will achieve the outcome of appropriate and good quality housing and infrastructure. The Agreement is made pursuant to the 'National Commitment to Improved Outcomes in the Delivery of Programs and Services for Aboriginal Peoples and Torres Strait Islanders' (National Commitment) signed by the Council of Australian Governments on 7 December 1992.
Detailed Information:
The Agreement is in six parts: Part 1: Definitions, principles, objective and outcomes The underlying principles of the Agreement are: Maximisation of opportunities for empowerment, self-determination, self management and economic independence by Indigenous peoples; Respect for social and cultural values; Maximisation of negotiation and participation by Indigenous people in the formulation of policies and programs and in the planning, development and delivery of services ; Improved co-ordination and efficiency of service delivery to Indigenous people to avoid duplication and for better application of available funds; Recognition of respective roles and responsibilities of national, state, regional and community agencies; Achievement of equivalent housing and infrastructure outcomes, including home ownership, for Indigenous people equivalent to that of non-Indigenous Australians; Improved access to housing; Maximisation of employment and training opportunities; Consultation wherever possible with traditional land owners and native title holders; and Funding for housing and infrastructure not to be used for compensation payable in connection with any native title issue. The stated objective of the Agreement is to maximise housing and related infrastructure outcomes and through these, improve environmental health outcomes for Indigenous people in Queensland, within the available resources. The housing and infrastructure outcomes are: provision of housing and infrastructure to those in greatest need; achievement of joint planning and coordination, effective program management and efficient and effective service delivery; enhancement of economic development strategies through the procurement, where practicable, or contracts with Indigenous community councils and organisations for the delivery of housing and related infrastructure services; development of an action plan for the establishment of a State statutory Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing and Infrastructure Authority; and increase in home ownership, and an improvement in environmental health outcomes and employment and training opportunities. Two key strategies in addressing the above outcomes include the enhanced involvement and participation of Indigenous people in decision-making and the establishment of a notional pool of funds for housing and infrastructure. Part 2: Role of the parties The roles of the parties to the Agreement are consistent with the Commonwealth State Housing Agreement (CSHA) and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Act. The Commonwealth has responsibility for providing funds in accordance with Commonwealth funding arrangements for the provision of housing and related infrastructure, while the primary responsibility of the State is for the delivery of housing and infrastructure services to Indigenous people in Queensland. ATSIC has a dual role to represent Indigenous people whilst seeking to provide appropriate supplementary programs to address outstanding disadvantage. The ACC provides a formal link between the 17 Aboriginal Community Councils and all levels of government. One of the main roles of ATSIC and of the State under the Agreement is to establish a Joint Planning Group (the Group) and to appoint members to that Group. The role of all parties is to provide advice to the Group on relevant policies, priorities or strategic directions. All parties, upon signing the Agreement commit to a 'planning horizon' of four years. Part 3: Structure and functions of the Joint Planning Group A Joint Planning Group (the Group) is set up under the Agreement and is comprised of 11 representatives as follows: five ATSIC representatives, being one State Commissioner (endorsed by the State Advisory Committee as having the portfolio for housing and infrastructure in Queensland) and four Regional Council Chairpersons; one representative from a Regional Housing Body (being a community controlled Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation); and five Queensland representatives including the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the ACC. The Group is to meet at least four times per year and is to report to and is directly answerable to the Queensland and Commonwealth Ministers and the ATSIC Chairperson. The function of the Group is to provide advice on appropriate policies and strategies to improve housing and related infrastructure outcomes for Indigenous people in Queensland. The Group is to coordinate and monitor, in accordance with a strategic plan, the provision of housing and related infrastructure for Indigenous people provided by the Commonwealth, ATSIC and the State. The Group is supported by a secretariat and the State and ATSIC are to share equally the reasonable administration and operational costs of the secretariat and the Group. Part 4: Strategic plan The Group has specific responsibility for the development of a strategic plan (the plan) in consultation with Indigenous people in Queensland and to submit the plan to the ACC, the Commonwealth, the State and to ATSIC. The plan is to be reviewed and updated on a yearly basis. The plan will detail the broad strategies required to give effect to the principles and the objective of the Agreement and to contribute to the outcomes of the Agreement. It will provide data demonstrating need, identify clearly defined resource priorities, identify a needs based planning process, coordinate the various regional and state-wide housing plans, and coordinate and integrate housing and related infrastructure funded from the notional pool of funds and linked programs. In particular the plan will identify strategies to maximise the quantity and quality of the housing stock and related infrastructure, wherever possible with the involvement and input of Indigenous organisations and people. Where practicable Indigenous community organisations will be engaged to deliver services under this Agreement in accordance with the Group's strategic policy on: the construction of new housing; the upgrading, renovation, repair, and maintenance of existing housing; the provision, upgrading, renovation, repair and maintenance of existing infrastructure; and the management and administration of housing. Each Regional Council in Queensland, in conjunction with the Regional Housing Authorities, where established, shall develop a 3-year Regional Housing and Infrastructure plan in consultation with the Group. Part 5: Funding and financial arrangements This part covers the bringing together of a notional pool of funds from various different funding sources, in order to coordinate joint planning, information sharing and integrated service delivery. The funds can be used for the following: construction of new housing; upgrading, renovation, repair and maintenance of existing housing; delivery of other forms of housing assistance; provision of relation infrastructure; and upgrading, renovation, repair and maintenance of existing housing related infrastructure. The Agreement is to be reviewed within the first three years of operation. Part 6: Miscellaneous matters This part covers the term, extension and variation of the agreement, dispute resolution, and termination.