Murdi Paaki Regional Partnership Agreement
28 January 2009Indigenous communities in the Murdi Paaki Region will benefit from an historic Regional Partnership Agreement (RPA) signed in Dubbo today by the Australian and New South Wales Governments, and the Murdi Paaki Regional Assembly.
This is the first RPA to be signed in NSW and it demonstrates a long-term commitment to improving the lives of people from the Murdi Paaki Region. NSW Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Paul Lynch, said the success of the Agreement lies in the strength of local Aboriginal governance structures, leadership and their partnership with Government.
"The NSW Government's contribution to this partnership includes support for the Murdi Paaki Regional Assembly and the 16 Community Working Parties," Mr Lynch said.
"Additionally, we will provide funds for Murdi Paaki Young Aboriginal Leaders, Local Government engagement, regional planning and partnership community work.
"This important partnership has already seen marked improvements in housing,environmental health, water and sewerage, retention in education rates for Aboriginal students and economic outcomes for Aboriginal people.
"The continued efforts of all parties to work on both a local and regional level to improve outcomes for Aboriginal people will see commitments delivered and partnership strengthened now and into the future," Mr Lynch said.
Federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin said the Australian and NSW Governments had committed more than $2.8 million to address housing, education, health, life expectancy, employment, economic development and leadership in the region.
"The RPA has been made possible by the determination and cooperation of all parties involved and is a blueprint for a new era of economic self-reliance and independence," Ms Macklin said.
"The agreement will build strong partnerships between government and Indigenous people across a range of areas, including economic development, employment and training, health and education.
"A key objective of this agreement is to improve Indigenous education and employment outcomes. Giving more Indigenous people the skills to get and keep a job is critical for closing the gap in Indigenous disadvantage. "Having a job means financial independence and builds a connection with the community. "The Australian Government is also providing Indigenous people in the Murdi Paaki region with financial services to help them improve their money management skills."
The agreement will boost health services in the Murdi Paaki region, with an emphasis on early childhood and primary health care and tackling chronic disease.
The communities benefiting from this RPA include Brewarrina, Broken Hill, Cobar, Collarenebri, Coonamble, Dareton/Wentworth, Enngonia, Goodooga, Gulargambone, Ivanhoe, Lightning Ridge, Menindee, Walgett, Bourke Weilmoringle and Wilcannia.
"Today's signing does a couple of important things for Aboriginal people in the Murdi Paaki Region," Chair of the Murdi Paaki Regional Assembly, Mr Sam Jeffries, said.
"It rewards us for the contribution we have made, and continue to make, to improving the social and emotional well being of our people in the most socio-economic disadvantaged areas in NSW.
"It rewards us for our persistence to see a partnership between Aboriginal people and the Federal and NSW Governments, and most importantly, it recognises the Murdi Paaki's region and our belief in good governance ethics, in community and regional governance, its legitimacy, its leadership and its empowering expression that hands responsibility to us.
"I want to commend the logic demonstrated by Ministers Macklin and Lynch in finalising a very lengthy negotiation process, which allows for greater coordination and collaboration across Government and sees them working in partnership with Aboriginal people to deliver services and continue promoting governance, leadership and empowerment," Mr Jeffries said.
Media contact: Tim O'Halloran - 0434 188 980
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