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Questions On Notice Questions on notice are usually asked when a more detailed answer is required and are in writing, and are forwarded by the Clerk of the Parliament to the relevant Minister who prepares a written answer which is presented to Parliament.
Question on Notice No. 1808 |
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| Posted by Administrator (admin) on Nov 10 2005 |
| Questions On Notice >> |
MR LAWLOR asked the Minister for Energy and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy (MR MICKEL)-
With reference to the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy's Partnerships Queensland Policy- What are the policy objectives?
ANSWER-
Partnerships Queensland is a strategic framework to integrate the government's policies, including the Ten-Year Partnership, Cape York Partnerships Queensland, and Meeting Challenges, Making Choices.
Partnerships Queensland is designed to streamline and bring consistency to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policy across Government for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Partnerships Queensland is supported by a rigorous and unprecedented performance measurement framework which breaks new ground by providing comprehensive benchmarks against which future endeavours to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social, economic and cultural wellbeing can be assessed.
It is a clear approach by the Queensland Government to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues to cut red tape and focus resources on the areas they are needed most in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities throughout Queensland. The Queensland Government recognises the one-size-fits-all approach has not worked in the past. Partnerships Queensland is a new way of doing business in partnership with individuals, groups, agencies and with all levels of government. It is critical that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples influence policy and program decisions at every level of government decision making. This includes community participation at a local level and on a regional basis through negotiation tables.
A number of notable companies are providing financial services, career opportunities, sponsorships, and employment and training for people in indigeneous communities. I thank a number of major corporations which are already significantly involved in indigenous communities including Macquarie Bank, Qantas, BP Australia, Thiess, Bank of Queensland, Sanofi-Aventis and Bendigo Bank. We are looking towards the corporate sector to expand on Partnerships Queensland and provide real opportunities for indigenous people in this state.
Government doesn't have all the answers - we recognise we can't do it on our own, so these partnerships are invaluable.
Partnerships Queensland draws together all government activities into a single overarching framework and focuses on four key goals:
- strong families, strong cultures
- safe places
- healthy living and
- skilled and prosperous people and communities.
To work towards these goals, Partnerships Queensland features five key mechanisms:
- ensuring effective community engagement through negotiation tables and community action planning processes that emphasise the importance of local solutions, decision-making and resource allocations at the local level
- improving governance through streamlined public sector governance arrangements and a new performance framework to coordinate government accountability in the delivery of service and allocation of resources to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
- better performing and more accountable service providers with more integrated and outcomes-based performance contracts, and a requirement for Queensland Government agencies to report on service delivery every six months and on achievements under the framework every year
- shared responsibility with communities and government working in partnership to foster participation, effective and integrated governance, communicating needs and monitoring effectiveness of services
- building greater leadership and capacity in both government and community sectors so that they can engage communities, support community leaders and coordinate their approaches to service delivery and funding.
Under the recently signed Bilateral Agreement on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Service Delivery between the Queensland and Australian Governments, the governments agreed to work collaboratively with the Lockhart River community to pilot arrangements that will reduce red tape and streamline bureaucratic processes.
Red tape is regularly highlighted to be a barrier to more effective service delivery. Partnerships Queensland outlines an agenda for both immediate and ongoing action. The whole-of-government implementation plan includes a budget strategy, a performance framework, a blueprint for action, a state-wide communication strategy and strict governance arrangements.
The bottom line of Partnerships Queensland is that it will provide a single, comprehensive framework for planning, coordinating and measuring the performance of government activities in the area of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policy and service delivery.Last changed: [PUBLISHED_DATE] at 11:00 PM
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