Fed: Indigenous adviser quits over Howard govt failings

AAP General News (Australia)
12-01-2006
Fed: Indigenous adviser quits over Howard govt failings

SYDNEY, Dec 1 AAP - One of John Howard's hand-picked indigenous council members has
quit, accusing the government of reverting to failed policies on indigenous economic development.

A second member has also decided not to renew his contract, for unspecified reasons.

Corporate adviser Joe Procter has left the National Indigenous Council (NIC) over frustrations
his economic ideas were falling on deaf ears.

"Indigenous economic development was the number one priority identified by the NIC
yet nothing has been taken on board by the government," Mr Procter told The Australian
newspaper.

"Actually it appears to have been ignored by relevant ministers and the government as a whole."

Indigenous Business Australia chairman Joseph Elu also decided not to renew his contract
with the NIC, although his reasons for the decision are unclear, the paper said.

A spokesman for indigenous affairs minister Mal Brough said Mr Procter's decision not
to renew his NIC contract was not a resignation, and defended the government's economic
credentials.

"No one can say that Mal Brough doesn't support economic development," the spokesman said.

"If anything he has been criticised for the speed (with which) he has pushed reforms
like land tenure reforms that underpin economic development."

Mr Brough was forced to apologise to NIC members, after they considered a mass walkout
over concerns they were being marginalised and undervalued.

AAP ajc/cmc

KEYWORD: PROCTER

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