The Ministerial Council of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs (MCATSIA) is a forum through which Commonwealth and State and Territory Ministers with responsibility for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs can meet to discuss issues of mutual interest and to consider reports on relevant Commonwealth, State, Territory and Local Government activities.
The Council comprises of the Ministers with responsibility for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs from the Commonwealth and each of the States and Territories. The President of the Australian Local Government Association and the chair of the Torres Strait Regional Authority are non-voting participating members of the Council. The New Zealand Minister for Maori Development attends as an observer.
Further details about MCATSIA members
MCATSIA is supported by a standing committee of senior officials from the Commonwealth, State and Territory departments with responsibility for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs. This committee is referred to as SCATSIA – the Standing Committee for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs.
Further information on current committees and their membership
The Council is chaired on a rotating basis, with each Chair holding the position for a period of two years. The current chair, for the 2008 to 2010 period, is the Western Australian Minister for Indigenous Affairs, the Honourable Dr Kim Hames MLA. MCATSIA meetings are usually held once or twice a year. They may be held in any capital city or Alice Springs.
There are approximately 40 Ministerial Councils in Australia, all established under the auspices of the Heads of Government. Each Ministerial Council maintains a specific focus on its area of influence. They give particular attention to issues that are of national significance and that can best be dealt with via policy, advice or action across all States, Territories and the Commonwealth.
MCATSIA acknowledges the unique status of the Indigenous peoples of Australia and recognises the cultural strengths and diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, along with the economic and social disadvantage they continue to face. MCATSIA acknowledges that progress in addressing Indigenous disadvantage can only occur when governments and communities work together in long-term partnerships. Because of this MCATSIA assumes a role of overarching coordination and performance monitoring in relation to strategic Indigenous affairs issues. MCATSIA sees joined-up government, or whole-of-government, as well as community approaches to addressing Indigenous disadvantage, as the only ways to move forward and make a real and lasting difference.