[Greens-Media] (Shoebridge MLC) Aboriginal Land Councils get equal rights in Local Government Association

[Colin Hesse]

Media Release

>From David Shoebridge, Greens MP and spokesperson for Local Government

For immediate use

Aboriginal Land Councils get equal rights in Local Government Association

NSW Aboriginal Land Councillors will for the first time have the same opportunity as local government councillors to stand for election to the NSW Local Government Association following an amendment moved by Cessnock Greens Councillor James Ryan at the Local Government Conference in Albury.

"The NSW Aboriginal Land Council have been full members of the Local Government Association for many years but were prevented from being elected to the Executive Committee by the LGA Constitution", said Councillor Ryan.

"The NSW Aboriginal Land Councils have long been members of this Association, they pay their fees and it is high time they had the right to be elected to the Executive Committee.' 
 
"It reflects well on the LGA that the Motion was unanimously supported," Councillor Ryan said.

Greens MP and spokesperson on Local Government, David Shoebridge welcomed the full membership of land councils into the Local Government Association.
 
"Land council's give voice to the concerns of indigenous peoples across NSW, and it's a great step forward to have them as full members of the LGA", said Mr Shoebridge.
 
"Greens Councillors have shown great leadership in moving for the LGA Constitution to be changed to allow any of the twenty seven Land Council delegates to stand for election.
 
"I hope this may be a precursor to seeing more indigenous peoples running for all levels of  government in the years to come", Mr Shoebridge said.
 
The constitutional amendments are expected to be in place to allow Lands Councils delegates to participate in the 2011 election.
 


For more information: 
 
David Shoebridge       0408 113 952
Colin Hesse 0401 719 124 or 9230 3030