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The 2001-02 Budget measures build on the Government's record of commitment over the past five years. Those achievements include:
1996
Greater focus on achieving desired outcomes through the quarantining of Aboriginal housing and infrastructure and Community Development Employment Projects from savings measures.
Tightening of accountability requirements within ATSIC and its funded bodies as a result of the findings and recommendations of the Special Auditor.
1997
Commencement of the innovative ATSIC/Army Community Assistance Programme which brings together Aboriginal communities and the Army in a partnership to construct essential infrastructure in some of the most needy remote communities at a cost of $10 million.
Commonwealth, State and Territory ministerial summit on reducing the over-representation of Aboriginal people in the criminal justice system.
Commencement of the first review of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 since the early 1980s.
Agreement to national performance indicators and targets for improvements to Indigenous health agreed by Commonwealth, State and Territory Health Ministers.
Funding levels in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs portfolio guaranteed for four years, providing surety of funding to the portfolio.
Completion of a major review of ATSIC's and TSRA's Community Development Employment Projects scheme.
The Hindmarsh Island Bridge Act 1997 came into operation, precluding further action or litigation under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984 and thereby enabled construction of the bridge to Hindmarsh Island.
Federal Government response to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission's report on the separation of Aboriginal families, Bringing Them Home. The Government response provides a practical $63 million package of initiatives to facilitate family reunion and assist Aboriginal people cope with the hurt and trauma of family separation.
1998
Provision of an extra $73 million over four years to address the urgent health needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commercial Development Corporation provided with an additional $10 million capital injection to promote greater participation of Indigenous interests in large business investments.
Joint funding agreement between the Commonwealth and Queensland governments to improve access to essential infrastructure in the Torres Strait region involving $30 million over three years.
Native title amendments agreed to, paving the way for greater certainty and improved workability of the native title process.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Bill first introduced into Parliament.
1999
Both Houses of Federal Parliament endorsed the Government-sponsored Motion of Reconciliation which reaffirmed the cause of reconciliation as an important national priority and expressed deep and sincere regret that Indigenous Australians suffered injustices under the practices of past generations and recognised the hurt and trauma that many Indigenous people continue to feel as a consequence of those practices.
Launch of the Indigenous Employment Policy involving $52 million per year for programmes aimed at generating more job opportunities for Indigenous in the private sector and to provide support for Indigenous people to enter into small business.
Extension of the ATSIC Army Community Assistance Programme with an additional $41.2 million over four years to improve essential infrastructure in remote communities.
Roundtable convened by the former Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs to discuss ways to address family violence in Indigenous communities. The Ministerial Council for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs subsequently endorsed a national framework to target Indigenous family violence. Over three years, $6 million from the Partnerships Against Domestic Violence strategy was set aside for Indigenous projects.
First all-elected board of ATSIC and first elected ATSIC Chairman.
2000
In July 2000 Prime Minister John Howard and Prime Minister Tony Blair made a joint statement outlining their governments' intention to increase efforts to repatriate Indigenous human remains from Britain to Australia.
Launch of the $27 million National Indigenous English Literacy and Numeracy Strategy.
Expansion of the Community Development Employment Projects scheme by an extra 1,500 places for regional and remote areas at a net cost to the Budget of $20.8 million over four years.
Review of the Aboriginal Councils and Associations Act initiated - more than 3,300 Aboriginal organisations have been incorporated under this legislation.
Announcement of the construction of Reconciliation Place to honour the importance of reconciliation in the nation's life and to recognise the shared journey between the different peoples of the Australian nation. It will also recognise the hurt and trauma associated with the removal of children from their families.
Corroboree 2000 was a significant Government-sponsored event organised by the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation which included the presentation of the national reconciliation documents to Australian governments.
Reconciliation Australia established with $5.6 million grant from the Federal Government to continue the "people's movement" for reconciliation. The Government has also given tax deductibility status for donations and gifts to the organisation.
Government announced the first round of grants from the National Indigenous Family Violence Grants Programme which is part of the Partnerships Against Domestic Violence initiative. Thirty Indigenous organisations across Australia received funding of $2.2 million for thirty-one practical community based projects addressing family violence.
Roundtable convened by the then Ministers for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs and Family and Community Services to examine ways to build capacity within Indigenous communities. The roundtable involved Indigenous and non-Indigenous community leaders and resulted in $20 million being set aside for Indigenous community capacity building projects from the Stronger Families and Communities strategy.
Launch of the Voluntary Service to Indigenous Communities Foundation which aims to link skilled volunteers with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities requesting assistance. The Government has granted $1.5 million over three years and tax deductibility status for gifts and donations.
Council of Australian Governments agrees to a framework for advancing reconciliation through addressing Indigenous disadvantage.
Prime Minister delivers keynote speech - the Menzies Lecture, on reconciliation and the Government's Indigenous affairs agenda.
2001
Establishment of the Federal Department of Reconciliation and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs along with the elevation of the portfolio to Cabinet.
The first projects under the Indigenous-specific component of the Stronger Families and Communities Strategy announced by Senators Newman and Herron in January 2001. The projects included a national leadership programme with the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) and other community based projects designed to create increased social and economic opportunities at the local level.
Establishment of Indigenous Business Australia to forge partnerships between Indigenous people and corporate Australia by developing commercially viable joint ventures that will enable Indigenous Australians to acquire equity in a number of large businesses and to create opportunities for employment.
Opening of new building for the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies.
2001 Budget announces around $327 million additional funding over the next four years for Indigenous-specific programmes.