LEADER CALLS FOR ABORIGINAL SEATS

A LEADING voice in the Tasmanian Aboriginal community says now is the time to create two dedicated seats for Indigenous people in state parliament.

Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania chairman Michael Mansell praised Premier Jeremy Rockliff for committing to introduce legislation by the end of this year to increase the number of seats in the House of Assembly.

The change would come into effect at the next state election, due in 2025, and would see 10 new faces in the lower house, bumping the number of members up from 25 to 35.

Mr Mansell said an expansion of this kind “must” include two dedicated Aboriginal seats.

“Tasmania is a representative democracy that has failed to represent Aborigines,” he said.

“Maori in New Zealand, Indians in Maine in the US and indigenous people in Columbia have dedicated seats for the original people in their parliaments.

“We hope that Tasmania would not begrudge Aboriginal people of the opportunity to finally get our people represented in what is an allwhite parliament. To avoid split loyalties, dedicated seats are far more effective than Aborigines being elected through political parties.”

In 2020, the Select Committee on the House of Assembly Restoration Bill concluded that dedicated Aboriginal seats were “warranted to improve representation and outcomes for Aboriginal Tasmanians”.

Mr Mansell said that under the Land Council’s proposal, the two Aboriginal seats would be in addition to the 10 seats to be restored under the new legislation.

“The electorate for the Aboriginal candidates would be the whole of the state rather than any one or more of the current divisions,” he said.

Mr Mansell said Aboriginal people could only vote once either for “general” candidates or Aboriginal candidates.

In announcing his decision to increase the size of parliament on Wednesday, Mr Rockliff acknowledged that it could be electorally unpopular.

“Sometimes you’ve got to have the courage of your convictions and do what’s right,” he said.

Tasmania is a representative has democracy that failed to represent Aborigines

Michael Mansell