Senate Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee, , 6:54:32 to 6:58:50
The Central Land Council delivers an opening statement highlighting the impact of grinding poverty, high living costs, and inadequate infrastructure on remote communities in Central Australia.
Topics: First Nations, Infrastructure
Speakers: Les Turner, Senator Karen Grogan, Unknown Speaker, Speaker 35, Hon Malarndirri McCarthy
Thank you very much. Um, thank you for your time. Uh, apologies to everyone for um, the blowout in the um, agenda. We are a number of hours behind. Um, and we're doing our best. Um, so we [clears throat] will let you go. Thank you so much uh, for your time. Um and we will now ask the land councils to we have two land councils in the building to make their way to the table and we have two online. so ah and there is the central land it's very good to see you. Um would you sorry >> It's very good to squint [clears throat] in your general direction. Um, thank you so much for joining us. We really, really apologize for the delay. And I believe we have Angela online as well. Yes, there you are. Um, maybe if while the other land councils are making their way to the room and joining us at the table, I could ask um maybe the central land council to start and if you would like to introduce yourselves and maybe provide any opening statement that you We can't hear if >> are you able to unmute yourselves or do are we >> Hello. >> I wasn't sure if we had you muted or whether uh or whether you were muted yourselves. Thank you so much.
>> Thank you, Madam Chair. Less Turner, the CEO of the Central Land Council. We'll just introduce staff. >> Around the table. >> Thank Starting with
>> Kate O'Brien, principal legal officer of
>> Josie Douglas, general manager, >> Good afternoon, Misha Cartrite, general manager for regional and development services.
>> We do have an opening statement if that.
>> Yes. Do you want to go straight ahead?
>> Yes. Thank you. >> Okay. First, in regards to the shock shocking news on Helen Haines, our thoughts are with her and her family. Hello, Madam Chair and committee members. We at the Central Land Council appreciate the opportunity to attend these estimates hearings and answer your questions. We're committed to good governance and welcome the important role of the Senate estimates in ensuring public accountability. Thank you for agreeing to us appearing virtually today. Last week or the week before poverty week in Australia, some of you may have seen us [snorts] may have met with a small CLC delegation who traveled to CRA to talk to lawmakers about the conditions our constituents face in central Australia. [clears throat] Our people are struggling to survive amid soaring prices for fuel and household goods. The grinding poverty that ainal people continue to experience over generation impacts all facets of people's lives. Not only in the difficulty of affording fuel and household goods, but also straining emotional and social Poverty traps people in the struggle to survive from day to day and deprivives them of the ability to plan for a better For remote communities to succeed, they need decent housing, education, health services, affordable food and transport, community safety, and employment opportunities. Without these essential foundations, how can they maintain a basic economy and envision envision a future which most other Australians enjoy? In remote communities, living costs are 40% higher than in the nearest towns. Kids are going hungry. People can't afford to keep their power on over the long hot desert summers or warm warm them in the winter. Conditions are dangerous for the elderly, babies, and infants and make food storage and cooling almost impossible. It's well past the time to address the inequity of ainal people in remote communities experience. Thank you.