End of life as we know it

Monday, 13 August 2007 09:04

The Reform Commission responsible for handing down recommendations on the amalgamation of Councils in Queensland has dealt the Torres Strait a devastating blow that, if enforced, marks the end of island life as we know it, TSRA and St Pauls Island Council Chairman Mr. Toshie Kris said.

Mr Kris said: “The findings of the report which took only eight weeks to complete, support the State Government’s intention to abolish all Island Councils with the creation of one Regional Council (Torres Strait Regional Island Council) from March, 2008.

“Communities in the Torres Strait receive and expect a wide range of extra services you wouldn’t receive from a Regional Council on the mainland (like bank, postal agency, community housing, CDEP etc).

“However, in its report the Reform Commission fails to adequately consider the impact that abolishing the existing Island Councils will have on these extra services at the grass roots level on the community. In addition, the report states that the proposed Regional Council will have generally the same objectives as any other Queensland Council.

“But the report does not answer any questions we have about whether this Regional Council will take on these extra services, and if so, how these services will be managed from outside the community. And despite a dedicated commitment by the Island Co-ordinating Council on Thursday Island to address these problems and find real solutions (a comprehensive process that took over 18 months to complete), the Reform Commission refuses to even consider the ICC’s non-amalgamation option: it’s ‘Local Government Authority’ model for shared resource arrangements.”

Mr Kris said: “While the Commission offers weak assurances that improved capacity to ensure ongoing development of skills and capability within the local community will be considered, no explanation is given as to how this can be achieved if the administration of services to the community are removed from the islands.

“Minister Fraser’s pledge to Council members in May, 2007, that residents will continue to have control over the scope of services provided to their community now appears to be nothing but lip service.

“The proposed model for the Regional Council allows for only one elected member from each island to represent their community. It was widely thought that Community Boards would be put in place to guide the elected member on the needs and wishes of the community.

“However, if the Reform Commission recommendations are successful these Community Boards won’t have any staff or legislated scope, powers or authority. How will this ensure we maintain our island’s individual cultural identity, if the only person who has powers to vote on the issue is one councillor sitting alongside 14 other councillors from 14 other islands?”

Mr Kris said: “But of greatest concern is that fact that the report also reveals a complete disregard for the rights of Torres Strait Islanders to have a say on how their region is structured. In 2005, the Department of Local Government, Planning, Sports & Recreation performed Green Paper Community Consultations as part of ‘The Torres Strait Government Review’.

“The Reform Commission is now trying to use these responses to justify the proposed amalgamations, yet the Response Booklet handed out to community residents during the consultation process never offered amalgamation as an option for consideration. If 50 years of self-management are going to be abolished, communities in the Torres Strait expect to be thoroughly consulted.

“In particular, our communities need to have a say on:

1) how existing municipal services like rates, water, sewerage, garbage collection etc. will be controlled under the Regional Council?

2) how existing non-municipal services like CDEP, community housing, bank and postal agencies will be?

3) who will administer the treaty movement in these communities?

4) how existing community enterprises will retain community control under the proposed Regional Council structure

5) how the proposed Community Boards will be structured?

6) what legal powers will the Community Board have to advise the Regional Council on the wishes of the community?

7) who will be eligible for membership to the Community Board?

“Our proud history is now in the hands of the State Government and it’s critical that mistakes aren’t made at the policy-formulation stage that will destroy the principles of Torres Strait Islanders people for generations ahead.

“We have fought hard in the past and will continue to fight hard for autonomy for our people,” Mr Kris stated.

 

 

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