At first glance, there are many possible answers to the question: ‘Who represents CDEP?’ This answer might be the ATSIC Commissioners who hold the brief for CDEP, the ATSIC Board, the ATSIC Regional Councils, the Community Councils, the communities, the local CDEP coordinators, the project officers, the participants themselves, or even in some respects all levels of government, or industry. The real answer is that all these players have a role in representing and supporting CDEP.

Wider economic forces have an integral part to play in determining the employment situation in Australia today. However, within those constraints the disadvantaged must be listened to, and their cause advocated, if the gap between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’ is not to widen further. The Australian community as a whole, through its elected representatives and government agencies, must take some responsibility for helping the disadvantaged, many of whom are to be found in Indigenous communities.

I see it as my role, as portfolio Commissioner, to broadcast the message, wherever and whenever I can, that CDEP remains an important program for Indigenous peoples and communities. We must not lose sight of the fact that the CDEP has been developed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and that the scheme, as a community and participant driven program, is meant to respond to their needs.

In its recent restructuring, ATSIC created Policy and Support Units at all levels of the organisation. These reflect directly the core values of the organisation, and are intended to strengthen its advocacy role in reflecting the concerns of Indigenous people. The decision to reprioritise resources and to establish these units reflects a fundamental shift in focus to policy and advocacy, and recognises a greatly increased interest in effecting change through externally directed argument, persuasion, and influence. The Board of Commissioners endorsed the restructure and it is now the task of the elected and administrative arms to deliver outcomes. It is encouraging that these extra resources are now available at all levels within the organisation to advocate the needs of CDEP projects and Indigenous people in general.

It is important, therefore, for all our voices to be heard in support of the CDEP scheme and particular CDEP projects. There is also a mutual obligation requirement on governments to deliver. For too long the role of the CDEP projects in delivering essential services to communities has gone unacknowledged (see contributions to this volume by Bartlett, Ch. 20; Kean, Ch. 21; Dukakis, Ch. 27: Nalliah, Ch. 28). If this service delivery continues, then those CDEP workers must be properly remunerated for the work they do. Governments have an obligation, at the very minimum, to deliver essential services to communities.

The use of labour market programs like the ‘work for the dole’ is one strategy adopted by this government to address its objective of mutual obligation. There should be consistency in funding between Indigenous and ‘work for the dole’ organisations. Over the last 25 years, Indigenous communities and individuals have been meeting their mutual obligations, and they will continue to do so. CDEPs are under-resourced, an it is hoped that greater advocacy will influence the government to appreciate and recognise the benefits of the program, and resource it appropriately.

Industry needs also to be responsible in meeting its social obligations with respect to the Indigenous employment situation. It can achieve this through developing partnerships with ATSIC at national, State, and regional levels, and by creating real employment opportunities which include a commitment to employing Indigenous trainees after their training subsidy has run its course. Industry will be the beneficiary if it realises the potential of the skills base that the CDEP scheme has produced.

Reconciliation is currently a salient issue in Australia, and now is the time to capture some of the momentum and turn it into real outcomes for Indigenous people. If this opportunity is allowed to slip away, Indigenous people will remain sceptical, cynical, and marginalised.