TCICA executive officer Michael Miller says the push to create a Queensland Indigenous Council Leaders Accord has continued to be a key focus for the organisation as the State Government moves to honour a bipartisan election commitment to establish it. Photo: Cape York Weekly.
The State Government says it remains committed to an election promise to give Cape York and Torres Strait Indigenous council leaders a seat at the decision-making table in Brisbane.
Steven Miles and David Crisafulli offered bipartisan support for the establishment of a Queensland Indigenous Council Leaders Accord ahead of the October 2024 election, with stakeholders telling Cape York Weekly they were happy with the progress being made almost four months into the new term of government.
The proposed accord will aim to provide the state’s First Nations councils with direct access to State Government decision makers to generate better decisions on the needs, priorities and wellbeing of their communities.
Torres Cape Indigenous Council Alliance (TCICA) and the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) will represent Queensland’s 17 Indigenous and discrete local governments once the accord is operational.
“TCICA, in partnership with LGAQ, has continued to keep the accord front of mind of the government since coming into office,” TCICA chair and Kowanyama Mayor Territa Dick said.
“It gives TCICA a committed seat at the decision-making table when it comes to matters directly impacting our communities; once the accord is implemented, it will allow TCICA, as the communities’ representative body, to provide valuable input into current and future policy, programs and planning decisions from a grass roots level.
“It will allow us to provide lived experience of how past decision have impacted or not achieved the expected outcomes on the ground.”
TCICA executive officer Michael Miller said the accord would again be front and centre on the agenda at the organisation’s first meeting for 2025 next week.
“The accord has continued to be a key focus at all of our meeting since being tabled with both major parties, and will remain to be until the terms of reference and agreement is put in place,” he said.
A spokesperson for Minister for Local Government and Water Ann Leahy said the terms of reference for the accord were currently being developed.
“The Queensland Government remains committed to the establishment of a Queensland Indigenous Council Leaders Accord,” the spokesperson said.
“The terms of reference are being developed and will be signed off by the Queensland Government and the Local Government Association of Queensland as co-signatories.
“Our intent is for the first biannual meeting between ministers, directors-general and First Nations mayors to take place soon.”
LGAQ chief executive officer Alison Smith welcomed the news and said she believed the accord would “make a real difference on the ground for members and their communities”.
