Queensland’s cultural organisations will have increased First Nations representation on Boards and create new First Nations Committees under new legislation passed in State Parliament this week.
State Arts Minister Leeanne Enoch said the new legislation extended the commitment to Path to Treaty and enshrined a greater recognition of First Nations peoples within the state’s leading cultural institutions.
Minister Enoch, who also holds the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships portfolio, said the changes modernised the enabling legislation that guided the operation of Queensland Performing Arts Trust, Queensland Art Gallery, Queensland Museum, State Library of Queensland and Queensland Theatre.
She said the significant amendments included an overarching statement on First Nations and arts and cultures and re-worked guiding principles that defined best practice in working with First Nations communities, including the importance of self-determination, cultural and creative rights and principles.
“Importantly, the legislation increases First Nations representation on each Board and includes the establishment of First Nations Committees to provide cultural leadership and governance to the Board including integrating cultural knowledge into their decision making.”
Minister Enoch said the amendments took a position on “fake art” issues, which impacted First Nations arts communities, to improve positive economic outcomes and to enshrine cultural protocols in sharing First Nations stories.
She said this was an issue of particular importance as the state prepared to showcase Queensland’s unique arts and cultures on the global stage at the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“The introduction of this important legislation addresses a longstanding need to enshrine a greater recognition of First Nations peoples and to modernise governance provisions in the legislation, which has been largely untouched since enactment some 30 years ago.”
