Tony Abbott given ‘free reign’ in new role as special envoy tasked with improving indigenous education
TONY Abbott will be given the authority to act as a fierce independent advocate for indigenous education and, as special envoy, won’t be hamstrung by government policy.
NSW
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TONY Abbott will be given the authority to act as a fierce independent advocate for indigenous education and, as special envoy, won’t be hamstrung by government policy.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has given Mr Abbott the green light to make lifting school attendance for indigenous children the focus of his new role, and expects a report outlining the issues holding kids back within a month.
Mr Morrison expects Mr Abbott to come up with ideas that will be “game-changers” and present them to state premiers in a bid to tackle the difficult issue at all levels of government.
But Mr Morrison has pledged he won’t use the appointment to muzzle Mr Abbott, who had frequently and publicly critiqued Turnbull government policies.
“Mr Abbott will engage across communities affected by poor school attendance and performance and provide me with an honest assessment of where things are at,” Mr Morrison said.
“As special envoy, he won’t be confined by the usual constraints of a minister. It won’t be his job to defend or promote government policy. His job will be to identify game-changers that might achieve tangible breakthroughs.”
Mr Morrison and Mr Abbott will sit down this week to further flesh out the expectations of the role.
The area of focus was decided in consultation with Mr Abbott, who has made annual visits to indigenous communities since his time in opposition.
“His task is to start at the outcome of indigenous children attending and thriving in school in remote areas and to work backwards from there and advise me what is getting in the way and what can be done,” Mr Morrison said.
Mr Abbott would report directly to Mr Morrison and was expected work closely with Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion and Education Minister Dan Tehan.
“I am confident that (Mr Abbott’s) demonstrated long-term commitment to working with indigenous people will provide the government with an ear to the ground in these communities,” Mr Morrison said yesterday.
Mr Abbott said it was vital indigenous school attendance rates improve.
“If you don’t go to school you can’t have a good life yet only 20 per cent of remote kids go to school 90 per cent of the time,” he said.
“This is what must change if Aboriginal people are ever to enjoy all the benefits of modern Australia.”