The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s (PM&C) Indigenous Affairs Group is to become the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) from the 1 July.
The Agency was gazetted on the 29 May, when Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove signed the order to establish it.
Sir Peter’s order outlined the functions the NIAA will be responsible for, including to lead and coordinate Commonwealth policy development, program design, implementation and service delivery for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The NIAA will also provide advice to the Prime Minister and the Minister for Indigenous Australians on whole-of-Government priorities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
In a statement, PM&C said the NIAA provided a significant opportunity for the Government to look at how it works with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities, community leaders and other stakeholders.
“NIAA will provide more autonomy and authority to coordinate across the Commonwealth, working with Indigenous partners, the States and Territories to achieve the Government’s agenda for Indigenous Australians,” PM&C said.
The NIAA comes after the appointment of Ken Wyatt MP (pictured) as the first Aboriginal Cabinet Minister and Minister for Indigenous Australians.
It will function with a chief executive as its head, and will play a key role in the development and implementation of Australia’s Closing the Gap targets, promoting reconciliation and building and maintaining partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
