Jenny Macklin is the Indigenous affairs minister, as part of the Families,
Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs portfolio. She also held
that shadow portfolio prior to the election.
There have been two people of Aboriginal heritage elected into parliament in
the past -Neville Bonner and Aden Ridgeway. Although Bonner was a Government
member (Liberal Party) he was never elevated to the ministry; he did serve
on the ABC board during the Hawke Labor Government though. Aden Ridgeway was
a Democrat senator and did fulfil the role of democrat spokesman for
indigenous affairs, as well as deputy leader.
The Labor party would first need to select an Aboriginal candidate in a
winnable position for election, as ministers must be members of parliament
under the Australian Constitution.
As for the sport portfolio - I guess they are keen to encourage greater
sporting participation as a preventative measure for childhood and adult
obesity? As long as it's used for that rather than silly international
tugs-of-war over who gets to host the next tiddlywinks tournament.
Tim
_____
From: powderworks@yahoogroups.com.au [mailto:powderworks@yahoogroups.com.au]
On Behalf Of Beth Curran
Sent: Thursday, 29 November 2007 11:38 PM
To: powderworks@yahoogroups.com.au; Anna Offler
Subject: Re: [powderworks] RE: Pete in the ministry
Go get 'em Pete! The Minister with a Hat and a Big Noise! (We ought to have
P'works T-shirts made)
A few questions about this article:
I didn't see anything about a ministry for Aboriginal affairs - is that part
of one of the ministry positions listed in the article? Someone explained to
me a few years ago that such an office wouldn't be likely to be held by
someone of Aboriginal heritage, basically because they don't participate in
the Australian governmental process (I forget the exact wording they used to
describe the situation). If so, will this new Labor government possibly
change that?
Second, a ministry for youth I can understand, but youth and sport? What's
the role of the government in sport? Thanks - Beth
----- Original Message -----
From: Anna Offler
To: powderworks@ <mailto:powderworks%40yahoogroups.com.au>
yahoogroups.com.au
Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2007 6:21 AM
Subject: [powderworks] RE: Pete in the ministry
Well Workers,
Here it is
http://au.news. <http://au.news.yahoo.com/071128/2/153un.html>
yahoo.com/071128/2/153un.html
Lew and Anna
Somebody's got you on that treadmill, mateAnd I hope you're not beaten yet
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