Representing Indigenous Australians' interests

On a national level the executive council office would need to be adequately resourced with expert advisors in the areas of research, public relations and administration.

In summary, the proposal would be for the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) to conduct national elections for 35 full time members to service their constituents as per the old ATSIC Regional Council boundaries. AEC officers would later be charged with conducting state and national elections from the successful applicants.

Most Indigenous people are familiar with the potential leadership group currently operating in their regions and have an idea of whom they think would best be able to offer a new vision for empowering their people to achieve their goals.

The most critical difference between this Indigenous model and the National Indigenous Council (which superceded ATSIC) is that it is elected by the people, for the people.

It is only when we are able to elect our own representatives that we can claim to have a genuine national voice of the people and not a voice that echoes the wishes of a government who appointed them for their expert opinion.

While Australia, or more particularly the Labor Government, prolongs the announcement on their preferred model, Indigenous Australians will continue to be the poorer for not having a voice at the national level.