Freedom of Information
Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
OFFICIAL
Freedom of Information request FOI/1920/027
1) Any documents held by the National Indigenous Australians Agency regarding communication between the Minister
for Indigenous Australians or his Office and the Indigenous Advisory Council;
2) Any documents provided by the National Indigenous Australians Agency to the Minister for Indigenous Australians or
his office regarding recommendations to replace Ms Andrea Mason as the Chair of the Indigenous Advisory Council;
3) Any documents provided by the National Indigenous Australians Agency to the Minister for Indigenous Australians or
his Office regarding the future of the Indigenous Advisory Council including any possible meetings; and
4) Any documents held by the National Indigenous Australians Agency with advice from the Minister for Indigenous
Australians to the Prime Minister about the future of the Indigenous Advisory Council.
The time period for this request is from the Minister’s appointment on 29 May 2019 to present (2 September 2019), a
period of almost 100 days.
Doc #
Date
Description
Pages
Decision
Provision
1
25 June 2019
Question Time Brief
1-3
Exempt in part with
s.47C
irrelevant material
s.22(1)(a)(ii)
deleted
2
15 July 2019
Brief to Prime Minister
–
Exempt in full
s.47C
3
15 July 2019
Brief Attachment A –
–
Exempt in full
s.47C
nominee matrix
s.47F(1)
4
15 July 2019
Brief Attachment B –
–
Exempt in full
s.47C
nominee biographies
s.47F(1)
5
15 July 2019
Brief Attachment C –
–
Exempt in full
s.47C
letters to current
members
OFFICIAL
NIAA | Freedom of Information | Schedule of Documents
1
Document 1
UNCLASSIFIED: For Official Use Only
MIA-IB 00035
Last Updated: 25/06/2019
PRIME MINISTER’S INDIGENOUS ADVISORY COUNCIL
KEY POINTS
• s.47C
• The Prime Minister and I value the advice we receive from the Council.
• The Prime Minister is considering how we can harness the expertise of
members to ensure that the Council is in the best possible position to
provide advice on a range of matters, in particular, the Government’s
immediate priorities of addressing Indigenous youth suicide and education.
s.22(1)(a)(ii)
IF ASKED [APPOINTMENTS TO THE COUNCIL]
• Appointments to the Council, including filling the vacancy created by
Ms Andrea Mason OAM’s resignation, are currently being considered by
the Prime Minister.
OUR COMMITMENTS
• The continuation of the Council demonstrates the Government’s
commitment to work in genuine partnership with First Australians.
• The Council offers Indigenous Australians a voice at the highest level of
government – directly to the Prime Minister.
• The Government’s priorities for Indigenous Australians include finalising
the Closing the Gap Refresh, preventing young people from dying through
suicide, increasing school attendance, getting people into jobs, enhanced
local decision making through an enhanced Empowered Communities
model, co-design of a Voice and truth telling.
o The Council will provide the Government advice on these priority areas,
with a specific focus on providing advice on Indigenous youth suicide
and education.
UNCLASSIFIED: For Official Use Only
[Document may have been modified in Ministerial Office. Only factual content is provided by NIAA]
Page 1 of 3
1
Document 1
UNCLASSIFIED: For Official Use Only
MIA-IB 00035
Last Updated: 25/06/2019
LABOR’S RECORD
• N/A
BACKGROUND
• The Council was established by former Prime Minister, the
Hon Tony Abbott, in 2013.
• The Council’s current term of appointment commenced on
8 February 2017 and concludes on 31 January 2020.
• Currently there are only five members of the Council with expertise in
areas of economic development, health, remote communities and Torres
Strait Islander considerations:
o Mr Roy Ah-See (Co-Chair)
o Professor Ngiare Brown
o Ms Susan Murphy
o Mr Djambawa Marawili AM
o Mr Fraser Nai
• s.47C
• s.22(1)(a)(ii)
UNCLASSIFIED: For Official Use Only
[Document may have been modified in Ministerial Office. Only factual content is provided by NIAA]
Page 2 of 3
2
Document 1
UNCLASSIFIED: For Official Use Only
MIA-IB 00035
Last Updated: 25/06/2019
s.22(1)(a)(ii)
o
Contact Officer: s.22(1)(a)(ii)
Mob: s.22(1)(a)(ii)
Strategic Policy/ PAE
Tel: s.22(1)(a)(ii)
Cleared by:
Rachel O’Connor
Mob: s.22(1)(a)(ii)
Strategic Policy/ PAE
Tel: s.22(1)(a)(ii)
UNCLASSIFIED: For Official Use Only
[Document may have been modified in Ministerial Office. Only factual content is provided by NIAA]
Page 3 of 3
3
Document Outline
