ATNS - Agreements, Treaties and Negotiated Settlements project

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Council of Australian Governments' Communiqué
Category:	Event
Date:	3 November 2000
Sub Category:	Statement of Commitment/Intention
Place:
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State/Country:	Australia
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Alternative Names:	National Communiqu�
Subject Matter:	\| Reconciliation
URL:	http://www.coag.gov.au/meetings/031100/index.htm
Summary Information:
The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) produced a Communique on reconciliation on 3 November 2000, which adopted the first recommendation of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation (CAR). The Communique acknowledges the work of CAR and commits itself to advancing reconciliation in regard to social and economic disadvantage through a nationally-coordinated reconciliation framework. COAG's approach is based on partnerships and shared responsibilities with Indigenous communities; programme flexibility; and coordination between government agencies, with a focus on local communities and outcomes.' Its priority areas are community leadership, achieving better outcomes for Indigenous peoples and advancing economic independence.
Detailed Information:
The first recommendation of CAR reads: 'The Council of Australian Governments to agree to implement and monitor a national framework for all governments and ATSIC to work to overcome Indigenous disadvantage through settling benchmarks that are measurable, have timelines, are agreed with Indigenous peoples and publicly reported.' The Social Justice Report states: 'The Communique is a significant development to progress reconciliation. It cannot, however, be seen as a total response to the recommendations of CAR or by itself as an adequate response of governments. This is due first to the fact that the communique does not respond to significant aspects of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation's recommendations, particularly issues that relate to the recognition of rights and some of the symbolic aspects of CAR's proposals'. (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Commissioner, Social Justice Report 2001 No.2 (2002): http://www.hreoc.gov.au/social_justice/sjreport_01/chapter3.html (at 20 December 2004) 220).