NSW budget: Indigenous leaders say ‘time for action, not talk’ on treaty

Indigenous leaders have urged the NSW government to stop ‘window dressing’ and take a bottom-up approach to any state treaty.

Nathan Moran, left, shakes hands with NSW Premier Chris Minns. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Indigenous leaders have urged the NSW government to stop “window dressing” and take a ­bottom-up approach to any state treaty, after $5m was revealed in Tuesday’s budget to begin ­consultations.

“The time for window dressing is over,” Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council chief executive Nathan Moran said.

“Don’t talk at or over us – sit down and allow our communities to say what is needed.”

It comes after NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey revealed a raft of new funding for closing-the-gap measures and millions to begin consultations on a state treaty.

The Coalition, however, has accused the Labor government of ransacking health and regional NSW to fund public sector wage rises and “their union mates”.

“There’s been real cuts in spending … ‘efficiency savings’ hidden away in budget documents are code for cuts,” NSW Liberal leader Mark Speakman said, adding nominal spending in health was only 0.9 per cent.

Former NSW treasurer Matt Kean said: “They have raided the health budget to fund their union mates.”

However, the state government refuted the opposition’s “misleading” claims, pointing to billions in new funding for regional NSW, that health spending was in line with inflation, and that Mr Kean’s last health budget was itself “overrun” by inflation.

Tuesday’s budget also unveiled $131.4m in new closing-the-gap measures, including more spending on Aboriginal health treatments, and initiatives to keep Indigenous people out of jail and out-of-home care.

A nation-leading First Nations Budget Model, with communities guiding the areas where funding should go, was welcomed by leaders on Wednesday.

Lynda Edwards, winner of the Aboriginal Woman of the Year Award for 2023.

The Minns government also put $5m towards consulting Indigenous leaders on a treaty, with negotiators given 12 months to wrap up talks.

“Our communities and leaders are the ones that know what will work best for them,” Aboriginal woman of the year Lynda Edwards said.

“Hopefully the state government will listen. Talking to people on the ground and hearing what’s needed, that will be one of the things that will make the process a success.”

Mr Moran said he hoped the government’s approach would be better, quicker and more consultative than what came before.

“NSW has been discussing the word treaty for over 20 years now, but we’re far behind other states – we hear a lot of promises that don’t translate to actuals,” he said, saying the details would be in the fine print.

“A handful of groups and leaders (consulting with the government) is not good enough. We have four cultural groups and nine democratic regions … and they need to consult all of them.”

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey is congratulated by his Labor colleagues after delivering the state budget. Picture: NCA NewsWire

City of Sydney councillor and Metropolitan Aboriginal Land Council deputy chair Yvonne Weldon said it was important that funding went to communities, not bureaucrats.

“When considering Aboriginal affairs funding, the reality is that most goes towards government programs and paying the wages of public servants – it’s not a hand out for individuals,” she said.

“We need to work with communities to ensure that funds are used as effectively as possible. For too long, Australian governments have made policies for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, not with them.”

Ms Weldon said the treaty-making process would be a “decade-long endeavour” that would involve “in-depth consultation”.

NSW Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Harris said the process would be one of dialogue and collaboration.

“We are committed to working differently and in partnership with Aboriginal people to realise the aspirations of Aboriginal people and communities in NSW,” the minister said.

Premier Chris Minns recently revealed he was open to a state Aboriginal voice, even if the federal referendum failed.