The Howard government's review did not recommend abolishing ATSIC

It is, after all, the last advisory group of distinguished Australians appointed by the Howard government, to use the PM's words, to advise the government "on a purely advisory basis in relation to Aboriginal affairs".

Now hear the words of the only Indigenous member of that panel, Queensland academic Jackie Huggins.

It is 12 days after Howard and Vanstone's press conference in Canberra and I'm watching Ms Huggins sitting in a studio at SBS surrounded by "a diverse group of Indigenous leaders, other specialists in the area and members of the public," in the words of Jenny Brockie, moderator of the Insight program.

They have been brought together to debate Howard's plan and Brockie cuts straight to Ms Huggins by asking "did she see this coming?"

Ms Huggins explained that the review had taken over 12 months.

The government spent a lot of money on the review and there was no response and still is no response, to date, on that review.

Brockie: Did you get the feeling, though, that something like this might happen as a result of it or was it completely out of the blue?

Huggins: Well for me personally it was completely a bolt out of the blue. We knew that there would be changes. I didn't realise - nor did many people - how drastic those changes would be. So I was very much shocked and embarrassed and disappointed that as an Indigenous member, the only Indigenous member, of this review team and a woman, that the rightful opportunity to tell us about the review was not given by the government. I mean, I found out through Lola Forester (SBS journalist) who's in the audience tonight, through Indigenous media, that ATSIC was to abolished...

Brockie then introduced NT Country Liberal Party Senator Nigel Scullion as "the man the government sent along tonight to argue its case," and asked if he could "tell us who in the Aboriginal community was consulted about this decision?"

Scullion: "Well, in terms of the actual decision we need to understand that over 50 forums around Australia as part of the ATSIC review, we had over 150 submissions, and there were a whole range of other consultancy processes that went on. And there was just such a comprehensive issue within that process that said: "look, there is no public confidence out there about ATSIC ... and yes there was another recommendation but that was the principal recommendation".

Brockie: But there was not a recommendation to abolish ATSIC was there?

Scullion: Oh, certainly wasn't. But that doesn't necessarily mean it was outside our capacity and we've done that because we've had a very clear look at a widely consulted document. And I think they did a fantastic job ...