Call For Return Of College To Aboriginal Owners

Member for Lingiari and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern Australia and Indigenous Affairs Warren Snowdon today called on the Federal Government to set a date for the return of Nyangatjatjara College to its Aboriginal owners.

Mr Snowdon said the period the College had been under administration had been an unmitigated disaster.

'Despite its professed commitment to improving Aboriginal education outcomes, this Government has presided over a steady decline in student numbers,' he said.

'As the central campus has not been open for six months, the student numbers have collapsed, the funding has dried up and the college is headed for bankruptcy.

'The mismanagement of the College under the Administrator has led to a 100 per cent turnover in staff, with staff either quitting or taking stress leave.

'This is intolerable, given the crying need for secondary education for students from bush communities.

'It's a reflection on this government that the only secondary school run by the Minister for Indigenous Affairs is a basket case.

'In the 10 months he's been in charge, the Minister has practically destroyed it.

'He should come clean and tell us when he's going to hand it back to its Aboriginal owners.

'You won't get a job if you haven't got the necessary skills - how can the students of this college get the skills if it has all but ceased to function.

'The responsibility for this rests squarely at the feet of the Government' Mr Snowdon said.

2007-03-26