Vic: ATSIC abolition gives hope for Aboriginal voice say leaders

AAP General News (Australia)
04-15-2004
Vic: ATSIC abolition gives hope for Aboriginal voice say leaders

The Victorian government slammed today's decision to abolish ATSIC without any replacement.

A spokeswoman for Victorian Aboriginal Affairs Minister Gavin Jennings said the federal
government was "winding back the clock on self-determination".

"The Bracks government believes indigenous communities need more control of resources
to help their communities - this is where the solutions lie to confront problems facing
indigenous communities," she said.

The Victorian government supported federal Opposition Leader Mark Latham's proposal
to replace ATSIC with a directly-elected national body and a directly-elected network
of indigenous regional councils, she said.

AAP nl/dk/tma/jlw

KEYWORD: ATSIC VIC 2 MELBOURNE (REOPENS)

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