Date: Tue, 17 Mar 1998 16:10:52 +1000 (GMT+1000)
From: <reyburn-AT-pegasus.com.au>
Subject: Aboriginal seats NSW Parliament


 
New South Wales.
 
Aboriginal People in the NSW Parliament
 
The Standing Committee on Social Issues, of the NSW Legislative Council,
is in the process of undertaking an inquiry into Dedicated Seats for
Aboriginal People in the NSW Parliament. A series of meetings are
currently being held throughout the State (not in Illawarra), with
community consultation open until September 1998. A final report is due
in December 1998.
 
An information leaflet on this subject is available free from the
Committee, along with a comprehensive document entitled Aboriginal
Representation in Parliament. Issues Paper No.3 (Legislative Council,
Sydney, April 1997, 82p), plus information on making a submission.
 
Copies of these papers, or further information, may be obtained by
contacting the Standing Committee on Scoial Issues at the following
addresses:
 
Parliament House
Macquarie St, Sydney 2000
 
email: sociss-AT-parliament.nsw.gov.au
 
telephone: 02 9230 3078
 
As recent media reports on this issue have been on the whole negative -
basically saying: why should Aboriginal people have special
privileges, especially when they are just another ethnic group? -  I
would encourage as many people as possible to make a submission, no
matter how small, though hopefully a positive one supporting the idea of
dedicated seats.
 
With Bob Carr already coming out against the idea - depsite the fact
that there has never been an Aboriginal member of the NSW Palriament -
it therefore needs as much support as possible.
 
Michael Organ
Woonona
 
 



     --- from list postcolonial-info-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---