Fed: ATSIC launches court challenge to establishment of ATSIS

AAP General News (Australia)
04-08-2004
Fed: ATSIC launches court challenge to establishment of ATSIS

CANBERRA, April 8 AAP - Australia's peak indigenous body today launched a High Court
challenge to a government decision to strip it of most of its spending powers.

The government last year established Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Services
(ATSIS) to take control of most of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission's
(ATSIC) $1.2 billion budget.

Former Indigenous Affairs minister Philip Ruddock set up ATSIS to prevent possible
conflicts of interest within ATSIC.

ATSIC commissioners Rick Griffiths and Klynton Wanganeen today said papers challenging
the decision had been filed with the High Court.

"The action will clarify the legality of the annual expenditure of over $1 billion
of taxpayers funds diverted from ATSIC to ATSIS," they said in a statement.

"ATSIC's position is that ATSIS has unlawfully expended taxpayer funds."

Even if the High Court rules in ATSIC's favour, it may never regain its former powers.

Labor has promised to abolish ATSIC if it wins the next election and the government
may do the same after it finishes considering a report on the future of indigenous governance.

AAP pj/sb/dl/jlw

KEYWORD: ATSIC

2004 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.