Foundational Events

Critique of the Passive Welfare Economy

In 1999, Noel Pearson first publicised his critique of the passive welfare economy of Cape York in his draft monograph Our Right to Take Responsibility.

Despite the advancement of Indigenous rights and increased resources, Indigenous communities were going backwards because ill-conceived government policies displaced Indigenous responsibility and substance abuse epidemics raged unchecked.

Partnerships and Welfare Reform

In 1999, 400 Cape York community representatives gathered at the Wujal Wujal Land and Health Summit to discuss partnerships and welfare reform.

After three days of talks, Elders presented the Kaban, asking Premier Beattie to support their commitment to improving the plight of Cape York people. The Premier confirmed the Queensland Government's commitment to a new partnership, and agreed to fund an organisation to develop initiatives.

The Cape York Partnerships office opened in May 2000. A small team, led by Noel Pearson, was charged with developing a partnerships strategy and promoting its concept among governments, the private sector and Cape York communities.

Outcomes of the New Partnership

Weipa Business Summit

One of the first outcomes was the Weipa Business Summit, where partnerships were forged with corporate and philanthropic organisations. Cape York Partnerships had started on the road to reform.

Indigenous Enterprise Partnerships

Following the Weipa Business Summit, major Australian corporate and philanthropic bodies including The Body Shop, Westpac, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and The Myer Foundation formed Indigenous Enterprise Partnerships.

As well as providing financial support for projects not funded by governments, Indigenous Enterprise Partnerships' principal contribution has been to supplement the expertise deficit in Cape York organisations and communities.

This has been done through an extensive secondment and fellowship program involving executive leaders and staff from corporate partners — as well as individual volunteers — spending between one month and up to three years working in Cape York.

Meeting Challenges, Making Choices

In 2002, the Queensland Government launched Meeting Challenges, Making Choices in response to Justice Tony Fitzgerald's Cape York Justice Report, which confirmed our analysis of Cape York's problems.

Meeting Challenges, Making Choices adopted Cape York Partnerships concept of Negotiation Tables as an interface between communities and government agencies.

The Australian Government's partnership involvement was expanded when Cape York was selected as one of seven locations for the Council of Australian Governments Trial. The trial attempted to implement new government–community coordination policies. Whilst overall, the Council of Australian Governments trials were not successful, Cape York maximised the opportunity to build its partnership with the Australian Government.