Andrew Leigh (Fenner, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury) Share this | Hansard source

The Wreck Bay Aboriginal community has an unusual status. It's part of my electorate of Fenner, but residents do not vote in state or territory elections. This means the Commonwealth has a particular responsibility to residents of Wreck Bay. Wreck Bay is a special place. Through a dozen visits, I've appreciated the chance to work with and learn from members of the community. I thank my colleague Linda Burney, the Minister for Indigenous Australians, for allowing me to conclude debate today on the Aboriginal Land Grant (Jervis Bay Territory) Amendment (Strengthening Land and Governance Provisions) Bill 2022 on behalf of the Australian government. I thank, too, the shadow Attorney-General for his support on behalf of the opposition for these important reforms, and, as he did, I acknowledge the former Minister for Indigenous Australians, Ken Wyatt, for his work on them.

I'm pleased to stand here in support of the Wreck Bay Aboriginal community of the Jervis Bay Territory in their path towards greater empowerment. More than 90 per cent of the land in the Jervis Bay Territory is Aboriginal land, owned and managed by the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council, as prescribed by the Aboriginal Land Grant (Jervis Bay Territory) Act 1986. I'm proud that the reforms in the bill will realise long-held aspirations of the community to make sure their land grant act is fit for purpose and serves them in the best way possible.

The bill strengthens local decision-making, increasing autonomy for the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council's spending. The council has the resourcing capacity and institutional knowledge to manage their affairs, so cutting unnecessary reporting requirements and moving decision-making closer to the community level will minimise cost and delays. The Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council's governance and corporate operations will also be strengthened and more closely aligned with those of comparable Commonwealth entities.

The bill also assists the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council with issuing homeownership-style leases to individuals in the community. This means that interested community members will be able to enjoy the intergenerational benefits of homeownership. The Australian government is committed to improving housing in Wreck Bay and will continue to work closely with the council to bring houses up to standard. The Australian government is providing $5 million for urgent housing repairs and maintenance. This funding will also be used to plan for longer term options to improve housing. Minimum housing standards will be met before the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council grants any homeownership-style leases.

This bill also updates the title of the act to the Aboriginal Land and Waters (Jervis Bay Territory) Act 1986. This name reflects the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council's ownership of and strong connection to the waters, as well as land, and the importance of supporting that enduring connection into the future.

I acknowledge the community, particularly the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council's board members both past and present, for working in partnership with the Australian government to develop these reforms. Every reform in this bill has been explicitly endorsed by the council's board. It's an example of shared decision-making under closing the gap. I commend this bill to the House.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

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