Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission
ATSIC
5 March 1990 – 24 March 2005
Statutory commission, governed by elected Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives through regional councils and a national board of commissioners, that delivered most Commonwealth Indigenous programs and advised governments on Indigenous affairs.
How it came into existence
Established on 5 March 1990 under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Act 1989 (Hawke government, minister Gerry Hand), replacing the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and the Aboriginal Development Commission, whose staff, programs and assets it took over.
- Commonwealth Aboriginal affairs programs and administration
- Policy advice
- Land purchase
- Housing and business loans
- Enterprise and community development grants
Legislation: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Act 1989
Changes during its life
- 21 October 1998Moved into the Prime Minister and Cabinet portfolio.
- 26 November 2001Moved to the Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs portfolio.
- ATSIC programs in the Torres Strait region
- Torres Strait Regional Council
- Land acquisition
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health program funding
- Funding of Aboriginal community-controlled health services
- Program administration and staff
- Individual funding decisions on ATSIC programs
- Regional offices
How it ended
Abolished on 24 March 2005 by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Amendment Act 2005, with its regional councils continuing to 30 June 2005; its programs had already moved to mainstream departments in July 2004, and its housing and business loan programs passed to Indigenous Business Australia.
- Home ownership loans program
- Business development and loans program
- Residual ATSIC administration and support for its regional councils until 30 June 2005
On the abolition of the ATSIC Board; the regional councils continued until 30 June 2005.
Main functions
- Elected regional councils and national board of commissioners
- Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP)
- Housing and community infrastructure
- Funding of legal services and native title representative bodies
- Land acquisition
- Culture, heritage and language programs
- Home and business loans
- Advocacy and policy advice
Where it sits
Last in the portfolio of Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs.
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