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| Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peak Organisations | |
|---|---|
| Name | Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peak Organisations |
| Type | Advocacy coalition |
| Founded | 2019 |
| Location | Australia |
| Focus | Indigenous rights |
| Headquarters | Canberra |
Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peak Organisations is a national coalition representing diverse Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders peak bodies that advocate for constitutional recognition, self-determination, and treaty processes. The coalition emerged from consultations involving Referendum Council participants, Uluru Statement from the Heart, and leaders from the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples and state-based organisations such as the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service and NSW Aboriginal Land Council. It operates within the milieu of Australian Indigenous political mobilization alongside actors like Lowitja O'Donoghue, Noel Pearson, and institutions including the Australian Human Rights Commission and Reconciliation Australia.
Formed in response to the momentum generated by the Uluru Statement from the Heart and recommendations from the Referendum Council, the coalition's formation involved meetings with delegates from the Torres Strait Regional Authority, Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT), and representatives affiliated with the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. Early milestones included coordinated submissions to inquiries such as those by the Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition Relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and engagement with campaigns like the 2023 Voice referendum debates. The coalition has worked alongside historic movements such as the 1967 Australian referendum campaign and contemporary initiatives led by figures from Gurrumul Yunupingu’s community and organisations inspired by the Mabo v Queensland (No 2) decision.
The coalition is composed of peak bodies representing health, legal, land, housing, and cultural organisations, drawing members like the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, Aboriginal Legal Service (South Australia), Aboriginal Housing Company, and regional councils such as the Northern Land Council and Central Land Council. Its membership model mirrors federated structures seen in the Australian Council of Trade Unions and networks like the Faith-Based Organisations Australia consortium, featuring representatives from urban entities such as the Aboriginal Legal Service (WA), remote organisations including the Ngaanyatjarra Council, and Torres Strait groups like the Torres Strait Regional Authority. The coalition's secretariat functions are informed by practices from the Lowitja Institute and administrative precedents set by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission.
The coalition prioritises constitutional recognition inspired by the Uluru Statement from the Heart, establishment of an Indigenous advisory body akin to proposals debated in the Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition Relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, treaty-making processes comparable to developments in Victoria and Northern Territory treaty dialogues, and enhanced self-determination echoing the principles in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Other priorities include improving outcomes targeted by the Close the Gap campaign, influencing policy frameworks like the Closing the Gap agreement, and advocating for reform in criminal justice systems highlighted by inquiries such as the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.
Activities have included national coordinating meetings paralleling the convenings of the Referendum Council, public advocacy during events such as NAIDOC Week, submissions to parliamentary committees including the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Indigenous Affairs, and collaborations with health campaigns led by the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation. The coalition has also run awareness campaigns similar to those by Reconciliation Australia, provided joint briefs to the Commonwealth Parliament of Australia, and participated in forums with academic partners from the Australian National University and research bodies like the Lowitja Institute.
Governance arrangements draw on corporate models used by entities such as the National Indigenous Australians Agency and incorporate representative decision-making practices seen in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission’s legacy. Funding streams have combined member contributions, philanthropic grants from organisations like the Ian Potter Foundation and Paul Ramsay Foundation, and project-specific support from federal programs administered by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia). Financial oversight practices reflect standards employed by peak bodies including the Australian Council of Social Service and reporting expectations aligning with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission.
The coalition has influenced public discourse around the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the 2023 Voice referendum while contributing to policy submissions on treaty and recognition processes comparable to advocacy by the Victorian Treaty Advancement Commissioner. Critics from organisations such as the Aboriginal Provisional Government and commentators in outlets like the Australian Financial Review and The Guardian have argued the coalition can lack grassroots representation and face tensions similar to those observed in debates involving the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples and Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives. Supporters cite comparative successes seen in treaty negotiations in Aotearoa New Zealand and policy shifts following the Mabo v Queensland (No 2) ruling.
The coalition engages with federal institutions including the Parliament of Australia and agencies like the National Indigenous Australians Agency, liaises with state and territory bodies such as the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council and Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service, and partners with civil society actors including Reconciliation Australia, the Australian Human Rights Commission, and universities like the University of Melbourne for research collaboration. Internationally, it interacts with mechanisms influenced by the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and networks similar to the Asia-Pacific Indigenous Women's Forum.