Claims minister lost confidence of indigenous Tasmanians with support for Circular Head group

Greens leader Cassy O'Connor said the Circular Head Aboriginal Corporation (CHAC) and the Brumby Hill Aboriginal Corporation have described the construct of Tasmanian Aboriginal identity as a fallacy in its submissions to a government inquiry - an accusation that a CHAC spokesperson said was based on submissions that were "grossly taken out of context".

"That is racist and disrespectful and flat-out wrong," Ms O'Connor said.

"Minister what is your view? Do you agree with the Constitution, or with CHAC?

"Will you stand by Tasmanian Aboriginal people and condemn CHAC and the Brumby Hill corporation for their racist denial of Tasmanian Aboriginal people's very existence?"

In response, Aboriginal Affairs Minister Roger Jaensch said the government had sought the views of all indigenous organisations in the state when formulating policy and legislation, including aboriginal heritage protection legislation and its controversial review of the model for returning land to aboriginal people.

The Greens noted that Mr Jaensch in his answer failed to refer to "Tasmanian Aboriginals", and said he had lost the confidence of the state's indigenous community.

She moved a no-confidence motion in Mr Jaensch, but the government avoided that by exercising the casting vote of the Speaker of the House of Assembly.

Circular Head Aboriginal Corporation chairperson Selina Maguire-Colgrave said Ms O'Connor's comments were "hurtful and damaging", and that she should resign immediately.

"We are appalled that a member of Parliament can assert such inflammatory inferences that the Circular Head Aboriginal Corporation's policies are 'racist'," she said.

In a statement released later, CHAC confirmed it had made a submission to the government's Improved Model for Returning Land to Aboriginal People in Tasmanian Consultation Paper last year.

"Yes, Ms O'Connor is correct, that submission does make mention of the "false premise" of a "Tasmanian Aboriginal", but this has been grossly taken out of context."

"The submission here refers specifically to the "Tasmanian Aboriginal", as defined and constructed by the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre (TAC), it does not seek to deny the existence of Tasmanian Aboriginal people," the statement read.

"There are essentially two definitions of a "Tasmanian Aboriginal", one as per the TAC and one as per the rest of the Aboriginal population of Tasmania."

"It is the opinion of CHAC and the community it represents, that any future legislation should reflect the Aboriginal people of Tasmania, [as] this would therefore provide a more inclusive space for all Aboriginal communities in Tasmania, particularly those who do not meet the definition of a "Tasmanian Aboriginal" by the TAC."

According to CHAC, future Tasmanian legislation should note that references to Aboriginal people meant "a person of any Aboriginal race of Australia".

"This terminology would bring the current Aboriginal Land Returns Act 1995 -which is what is under review- in line with the rulings under the 2002 Administrative Appeals Tribunal."

That 2002 case was brought by 140 Aboriginal Tasmanians from Circular Head who had challenged TAC's definition.

Ms Maguire-Colgrave noted that Ms O'Connor had "never stepped foot" in the lands of the Circular Head Aboriginal Corporation, despite being invited to do so on many occasions.

"She knows nothing of the community here, that would take her stepping out of the Hobart bubble in order to do so."

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: