2019-07-15 General Committee Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING REPORT                                                      15 JULY 2019

7     LGAQ ANNUAL CONFERENCE PROPOSED CO-SPONSORED MOTION – SUPPORT
      FOR THE “ULURU STATEMENT FROM THE HEART”

Author            Chief Executive Officer, Brett de Chastel
                  CEO’s Office

Index             ECM/ Subject/ Liaison (Council and Government Agencies)

Attachments       1.    Uluru Statement from the Heart


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Not applicable.

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Chief Executive Officer to the General Committee Meeting
dated 15 July 2019 and co-sponsor, with Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council, the following motion
to the Local Government Association Queensland annual conference for consideration and debate:
“That the Local Government Association of Queensland recognises the Uluru Statement from the
Heart and:
1.    Hears and supports the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ call for the
      establishment of a First Nation’s Voice to be enshrined in the Constitution and for a
      referendum on this matter;
2.    Looks forward to working with our constituents, other levels of governments and all
      Australians to take this next step towards reconciliation; and
3.    Requests that the Australian Local Government Association consider expressing similar
      support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart.”

REPORT
The Local Government Association Queensland (LGAQ) Conference is held annually and provides
a forum for all Queensland Councils to come together to table and debate contemporary issues of
importance to their local areas and communities as well as identify issues that are likely to be
relevant to other local Councils.

A current issue of both local, state and national importance is the call from Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander peoples for constitutional change and structural reform in their relationship with the
broader Australian community.

Our Council has been asked whether we would co-sponsor a motion to the LGAQ conference with
Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council on this issue. Cherbourg has a long history with Noosa and
our Council. For many years, the former Noosa Council provided mentoring, support and
assistance to Cherbourg Council and some of the native title claimants of the Kabi Kabi (Gubbi
Gubbi) people reside in Cherbourg. It would be an ideal outcome for a proposed LGAQ conference
motion on a matter such as this to be co-sponsored by both an indigenous Council and a non-
indigenous Council.

As a progressive Council and as a Council looking to build stronger working relationships with our
local indigenous community, it would be appropriate for our Council to co-sponsor a motion with
Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council to the LGAQ annual conference.




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