Mr BAYLEY question to MINISTER for ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS, Mr JAENSCH
We understand staff within the Department of Education have been informed the existing budget to employ Aboriginal staff for frontline work with Aboriginal students will be cut. As a result, a number of guaranteed Aboriginal positions will be lost. The justification given for the cuts was that funding is needed to address the commission of inquiry's recommendations. The commission of inquiry is clear in its identification that your Government must:
Invest in Aboriginal-led programs that will keep children safe and work to divert them from out-of-home care and the youth justice system.
Frontline Aboriginal education officers are a critical part of keeping Aboriginal kids safe. The wellbeing of Aboriginal departmental employees and their security of employment should also be front of mind at this time of heightened trauma and responsibility. Can you confirm existing budgets for frontline Aboriginal education programs will be amended or staff employment discontinued to divert money to address the commission's recommendations? Will you guarantee these critical services will remain fully funded and only new money will be allocated to implement the commission's recommendations?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I thank the member for his question. In relation to the matters he has raised, I will look at the details of them on the Hansard and seek further advice from my department before responding.
We recognise the importance of ensuring education provision for our Aboriginal students in our schools and the presence of Aboriginal educators in our school system to ensure all our students grow up with a learning and appreciation of Aboriginal culture, heritage and history in Tasmania. We want to do that well. I am not aware of the concerns that have been raised that the member refers to but I will look into them.
Dr Woodruff - Could you get back to us today, minister?
Mr JAENSCH - I will seek further advice on those matters.
