Vanstone's 'No Idea' Committee

The submission said this concern was reinforced by the failure, in recent years, of the Ministerial Council on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs to complete two significant evaluations on COAG’s behalf in a timely manner.

“The first is the review of progress by all levels of government in implementing the recommendations of the Bringing Them Home report,” it continues, “The second is an audit of family violence programmes to guide the response of COAG to this crisis issue. Approximately three and a half years after these reviews were announced neither has been presented to COAG nor made public.”

Most importantly Dr Jonas called for the committee to continue beyond its current reference as a Standing Committee of the Senate, with ongoing responsibilities for monitoring the administration of Indigenous affairs by departments and agencies of Australian governments.

The committee, he says, should play an integral role in monitoring the progress of the Australian Government in addressing what remains one of the most severe human rights challenges facing Australia as a nation. Who could disagree? Especially with the Howard Government holding the balance of power in the Senate.

Seasoned political operatives will be casting a weather eye over the political landscape post-July next year when the new Senate takes it place and considering what steps can be put in place beforehand to ensure some checks and balances against a rampant Howard Government.

They could do worse than look to taking up the recommendation of Dr Jonas and ensuring such a Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs is put in place.

One thing is certain, given recent history, a Standing Committee will be a heck of a lot more useful to Aboriginal people in coming years than Ms Vanstone’s “No Idea Committee”.