James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Amendment Bill 2015 is a significant step forward for the AIATSIS reform agenda. The bill will amend the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Act 1989 to update the appointment process for the AIATSIS council to better reflect the skills needed for effective governance and diversity while retaining an Indigenous majority on the council. The bill will refocus the functions of AIATSIS from its current eight functions down to five. The revised functions will allow AIATSIS to focus on its strengths in research, education, collection and preservation. This will ensure a better targeting of resources and direct maximum effort to preserving the pre-eminent collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and heritage.

We cannot underestimate the historical and cultural significance of the AIATSIS collection. It comprises over a million items of Indigenous Australian culture and heritage, the value of which cannot be quantified. Managing such a collection is an immense responsibility and brings many challenges to AIATSIS. This bill is part of the government's ongoing commitment to continuing to work with Professor Mick Dodson AM and the AIATSIS council to ensure the future of this important national institution. I thank the honourable members for their comments and commend the bill to the Senate.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.