In 1991 the Federal Parliament passed legislation to establish the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation (CAR).
This formal reconciliation process came about as a result of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, which in its report recommended:
"That all political leaders and their parties recognise that reconciliation between the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities in Australia must be achieved if community division, discord and injustice to Aboriginal people are to be avoided. To this end the Commission recommends that political leaders use their best endeavours to ensure bi-partisan public support for the process of reconciliation and that the urgency and necessity of the process be acknowledged."
(Ref:Recommendation 339 in the Report of The Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody 1989)
Commissioner Johnston strongly affirmed the principle of self-determination, which he said shouldbe the guiding principle for all change in Aboriginal affairs. He stated that the issues which mayemerge as agenda items for negotiation as a result of discussion amongst Indigenous people should not be prejudged by the wider community. "Issues such as education, health, housing and employment are likely to figure prominently in discussions among Aboriginal people along with matters such as land needs, constitutional reform, sacred site protection, compensation and the processes for achieving self-sufficiency and many other issues, He wrote: "The process involves negotiation, discussion, consideration and, most of all, a willingness to consider those issues which one or other side regards as important to resolve. Negotiations based on mutual respect and equality will of themselves advance reconciliation."
Mr Robert Tickner, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs in the Hawke Government, persuaded all the major parties in the Federal Parliament to support the establishment of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation. The Liberal/National Coalition agreed on the condition that there be a sunset clause, limiting the life of the Council to December 31st, 2000.
Objects & Functions of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation (CAR)
Object:
The object of the Council was to promote a process of reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and the wider Australian community, based on an appreciation, by the Australian community as a whole, of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and achievements and of the unique position of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders as the Indigenous peoples of Australia, and by means that included the fostering of an on-going national commitment to co-operate to address Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander disadvantage.
Functions: The functions of the Council were:
The Council consisted of 25 people, who initially were appointed by the Minister for a three year term, although some of the members of the Council were reappointed for the two subsequent three year terms. The first Chairperson of the Council was Patrick Dodson who served two terms in that role. Evelyn Scott was appointed Chairperson for the third term.
The Council was serviced by a Secretariat based within the Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet.
The Council went out of being on December 31, 2000 after presenting its final report Reconciliation: Australia's Challenge to the Federal Parliament in December 2000.
However, before concluding its work, the Council was instrumental in setting up Reconciliation Australia, an independent national organisation, to carry on the reconciliation process at the national level.
Also all of CAR's publications and reports have been archived and are available to view on-line at www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/IndigLRes/car